On Sunday, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that he will not be continuing his campaign for the presidency, and instead, he is throwing his support behind Kamala Harris. Biden’s decision to step down from the 2024 presidential race, where he would have faced former President Donald Trump, has sent shockwaves through the nation’s political landscape. Following his announcement, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the new Democratic presidential candidate.
Joe Biden’s choice to exit the race was influenced by his underwhelming performance in the debate against Trump and persistent criticism from the Republican Party regarding his capacity to serve another term. The debate mishap also led many Democratic lawmakers to urge Biden to step aside as the presidential nominee.
What transpired in the lead-up to Joe Biden’s withdrawal
Joe Biden first contacted Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday to discuss his decision to drop out of the reelection race, according to The Washington Post. Biden also met individually with White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and his campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon.
Zients called a meeting of Biden’s campaign and White House staff at 1:45 pm so the President could personally inform them of his decision. At around 2:30 pm on Sunday, Zients officially announced Biden’s decision to the entire White House staff.
Biden made his decision over the weekend after several meetings with White House counselor Steve Ricchetti, senior campaign adviser Mike Donilon, deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini, and senior adviser to the first lady Anthony Bernal, all of whom were at the president’s vacation house, according to The Washington Post.
Why did Joe Biden end his reelection bid?
Calls for Joe Biden to step down as the Democratic candidate intensified after his poor debate performance against Donald Trump on June 27. While Biden attributed his performance to jet lag and international travel, many within the Democratic Party urged him to withdraw from the race.
Opposition from within his party gained momentum over the past week, with 36 congressional Democrats—more than one in eight—publicly calling for him to drop out due to concerns over his mental acuity, reported Reuters.
Lawmakers from the ruling party voiced their discontent with Biden’s decision to continue his reelection bid, fearing that his candidacy could jeopardize their chances of retaining not only the White House but also control of Congress next year.
Sources told Reuters that Biden had a “last-minute change of heart.” Until Saturday night, he had no intention of dropping out of the race. The President changed his mind on Sunday afternoon after several meetings with his top advisors.
Joe Biden leaves US presidential contest, endorses Kamala Harris
On Sunday, American President Joe Biden stepped out of the presidential race, allowing the Democrats to choose a new nominee at their upcoming convention next month to challenge Republican contender Donald Trump.
In a historic and unprecedented move, President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, shaking up the already chaotic contest for the White House. (AFP)
Shortly after his announcement, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate for the presidency. If nominated, she will make history as the first Black woman and the first Indian American woman to be a presidential nominee for a major party in the United States.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. While I intended to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to step down and focus on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden announced in a letter to Americans on Sunday.
About half an hour later, he posted on X: “My first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President, and it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today, I offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be our party’s nominee this year. Democrats, it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
Biden Prioritizes Party Interests, Backs Harris for Nominee
Biden’s decision follows a disastrous debate performance on June 27 against Trump, which underscored his age-related challenges and sparked a growing outcry within his party, from donors and voters, demanding a change in the Democratic ticket.
Despite Biden’s initial determination to stay in the race, the past two weeks have seen a surge of Congressional representatives, Senators, and party leaders voicing concerns about the viability of his candidacy.
Reports indicated that many influential figures within the Democratic Party, including key donors and strategists, privately expressed fears that Biden’s continued presence on the ticket could jeopardize their chances of retaining the White House and control of Congress.
Adding to the pressure, an assassination attempt on Trump and a successful Republican convention further consolidated Trump’s lead in the polls, including in critical swing states. Polling data showed Trump pulling ahead not only nationally but also in battleground regions, making it increasingly difficult for Biden to mount a competitive campaign.
Trump, meanwhile, told CNN he believes Harris will be easier to defeat than Biden. He suggested that Harris lacks the experience and political acumen to pose a serious threat to his campaign, predicting a smoother path to victory with her as the Democratic nominee.
A CNN reporter posted on X that Trump made these comments shortly after Biden announced his decision, highlighting the immediate shift in the political landscape and the intense scrutiny Harris will now face as the Democratic contender.
Biden Reflects on Achievements and Announces Plans Amidst Election Uncertainty
In his letter, President Biden highlighted what he viewed as significant accomplishments during his time in office, including progress on the economy, infrastructure, health care, gun safety, and climate change. “Together we overcame a once-in-a-century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We have protected and preserved our democracy. And we have revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world,” he wrote.
Biden also mentioned that he would address the nation later in the week.
The President’s decision introduces new uncertainty into an already unprecedented election. It remains unclear whether Kamala Harris will emerge as the uncontested Democratic nominee or if the upcoming convention in Chicago will become a battleground with other contenders vying for delegates. Additionally, Biden’s departure impacts the fundraising momentum of his campaign, alters the messaging surrounding the election, and necessitates a complete overhaul of the Democrats’ campaign strategy.
Harris’s Historic Rise and Early Setbacks
Kamala Harris made history as the first—and so far, the only—Indian American elected to the Senate. Although her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 faltered early on, Biden chose her as his running mate, signaling his commitment to both the Black community and women voters. As Vice President, Harris has been a leading advocate for abortion rights, challenging the Supreme Court’s decision to strip national protections. Recently, she has focused on campaigning in swing states.
Republican Criticism and Challenges
Republicans have labeled Harris as the “border czar,” blaming her for the rise in illegal immigration from the Southern border. This criticism traces back to Biden’s early decision to have her address the root causes of migration from Central and South America. Additionally, Harris has faced criticism for high staff turnover and struggles to establish a unique personal brand. Supporters argue that these criticisms are unfair, attributing negative perceptions to racism and sexism.
If Harris secures the nomination, she faces a formidable challenge: unifying the Democratic Party, raising funds, crafting a distinct campaign message, mobilizing the base, winning over swing voters, and taking on an energized Trump—all within a few months.
Personal Background and Community Ties
Harris was born to an Indian mother who migrated to the U.S. in the late 1950s and a Jamaican father. Raised by her mother after her parents’ separation, she fondly recalls visits to Chennai to see her grandparents. Harris has actively engaged with Indian-American and Asian-American communities.
Her upbringing also included strong influences from the Black community, as she attended Howard University, a historically Black institution. Her candidacy is expected to energize the Black community, though she must also appeal to White voters, particularly in key midwestern swing states.
Two days before Biden’s withdrawal, Angela Lang, a Black local political organizer in Milwaukee, emphasized that if Biden exited the race, Harris should be the nominee. Lang argued that selecting anyone else could provoke backlash from the Black community, which is highly sensitive to issues of representation. She stated,
“Kamala has energy and the ability to relate. I wouldn’t be as nervous watching a debate if it were Kamala Harris.” When asked if the country was ready to elect a Black woman president, Lang suggested that the urgency of defeating Trump might shift traditional barriers related to race and gender in this election.
Kamala Harris brings a vibrant, youthful energy to the race. In a more typical election cycle, I might have questioned whether we were ready to elect a woman president. I wish we were already there, but given the current situation, those usual concerns about electability based on gender and race seem less relevant.
With the pressing existential threat to democracy, the conversation has shifted, and these traditional barriers aren’t being discussed as they usually would be. It’s intriguing that this shift in focus has changed how people are approaching the question of electability.
