Biden withdraws from 2024 race, endorses Kamala Harris
Significantly reshaping the political landscape, President Joe Biden announced he will not seek a second term and has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.
In a heartfelt letter to “my fellow Americans,” President Biden expressed that serving as president has been the “greatest honor of my life.”
“While I had intended to run for re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of our party and the country for me to step aside and focus entirely on my presidential duties for the remainder of my term,” he wrote.
Biden threw his full support behind Harris, urging Democrats to rally around her candidacy: “Democrats – it’s time to unite and defeat Trump.”
The announcement was made via a statement posted on X, with Biden promising to provide further details in a national address later this week.
“For now, let me convey my deepest gratitude to all who have tirelessly supported my re-election efforts,” he said.
“I am profoundly thankful to Vice President Kamala Harris for being an exceptional partner in our work. I also want to express my sincere appreciation to the American people for their faith and trust in me.
“I still believe that there is nothing America can’t achieve when we work together. We must always remember that we are the United States of America.”
First Lady Jill Biden, who has been steadfast in her support, shared his statement on X with a simple heart emoji.
Harris, now seen as the leading contender to succeed Biden, expressed her honor at receiving the president’s endorsement, stating, “My intention is to earn and win this nomination.”
She praised Biden for his “extraordinary leadership” and his “selfless and patriotic decision” to step aside.
“I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party – and our nation – to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda,” Harris said. “With 107 days until Election Day, we will fight together and win together.”
Biden will complete his term, which ends on January 20, 2025. However, there are already calls for him to resign from the presidency, with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson stating, “If Joe Biden is not fit to run for president, he is not fit to serve as president.”
Biden’s withdrawal comes amid ongoing concerns about his age and fitness for office, highlighted by recent gaffes and a challenging debate performance against Trump.
Describing the debate as an “unmitigated disaster,” Democrats were alarmed by Biden’s incoherence and stumbling.
Despite insisting he was best positioned to defeat Trump, Biden faced increasing pressure from within his party to step aside. As of Saturday night, he had planned to remain in the race but informed senior staff on Sunday of his decision to withdraw, catching many off guard.
The announcement came while Biden was recovering from COVID-19 at his Delaware home, after several conversations with Harris on Sunday.
A source close to Biden recently acknowledged “we’re close to the end” following former President Barack Obama’s reported concerns about Biden’s re-election bid.
Culled from Sky News
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