President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he is withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.
Kabul 24: The decision came as a surprise to many of Biden’s senior staff, who were unaware of his plans until minutes before the public announcement.
Biden had been insisting for weeks that he would stay in the race despite pressure from some Democrats for him to withdraw.
Factors Behind Biden’s Decision
Biden’s disastrous performance in the first presidential debate against Republican Donald Trump raised questions about his mental acuity and his ability to defeat Trump in November.
Polls and data showed Biden’s path to victory was largely out of reach, leading him to agonize over the decision before moving quickly to withdraw.
Growing opposition within the Democratic Party was a factor, as Biden believed it was important for the party to be united going into November.
Biden’s Endorsement of Harris
In his announcement, Biden expressed his full support and endorsement for Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee this year.
Biden said his very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Harris as his Vice President, and it has been the best decision he’s made.
Democratic Party’s Next Steps
Dozens of Democratic Congress members, governors, and officials have endorsed Harris for president following Biden’s announcement.
Harris vowed to “earn and win” the Democratic nomination after Biden’s withdrawal.
Democrats will meet in Chicago in August to decide the path forward and select a new nominee to face Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
