US election: Why Biden withdrew from presidential race
•Endorses his vice, Kamala Harris
•Biden wasn’t fit to run —Trump
United States President Joe Biden has announced his withdrawal from the presidential race.
Mr. Biden’s decision came four months before the country’s 2024 presidential election.
Joe Biden’s campaign has been thrust into pressure, as panic and worry about his election chances pour in from the highest levels of the Democratic party.
Below are some incidents and people who called for his withdrawal:
According to BBC, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had expressed concerns in private to Mr Biden about his candidacy.
His former running mate, former President Barack Obama, had reportedly said Mr Biden’s chances of winning the election have greatly diminished.
Why Biden should leave the race
On why he should quit, US senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat said it was time for Biden to “to pass the torch to a new generation”. Leaving the race, Manchin said, would allow Biden to focus on issues the president cared about, including helping Ukraine fend off Russia’s invasion and ending Israel’s war on Gaza.
“He will go down with a legacy unlike many people, as one of the finest and truly a [patriotic] American,” Manchin said. “So, with that, I come with a heavy heart to think the time has come for him to pass the torch to a new generation,” he said during an interview on ABC’s This Week.
Similarly, a 6 July letter from high-ranking congressman Jamie Raskin, a Maryland representative, compared the president to a baseball pitcher whose arm has “tired out”.
Mr Biden, 81, has repeatedly and defiantly declared he is “not going anywhere”, urging his party to refocus on the task of defeating Donald Trump.
But the calls to exit are nearing a crescendo as Democratic politician, donors and voters speak out against the president’s candidacy.
Who wants Biden to go
Lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol came out in growing numbers against the idea of Mr Biden staying in the race.
It began five days after the June 27 debate with Lloyd Doggett, a 15-term Texas congressman, who said that it was time for Mr Biden to “make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw”.
Mr Doggett, 77, who sits on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, said he respected “all that President Biden has achieved” but that the Democrat had failed to “effectively defend his many accomplishments” on the debate stage.
Only three members of the Senate publicly called for Mr Biden to drop out. They are Peter Welch of Vermont, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Montana’s Jon Tester, who is fighting for re-election.
They have been joined by House colleagues including the likes of Adam Schiff, California’s likely next senator, and several members in tight re-election races of their own. The others are:
Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, Mike Quigley of Illinois, Angie Craig of Minnesota, Adam Smith of Washington, Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, Pat Ryan of New York, Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, Hillary Scholten of Michigan, Brad Schneider of Illinois, Ed Case of Hawaii, Greg Stanton of Arizona, Jim Himes of Connecticut, Scott Peters of California, Eric Sorensen of Illinois, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington state, Mike Levin of California, Brittany Pettersen of Colorado, Jim Costa of California, Sean Casten of Illinois, Jared Huffman of California, Marc Veasey of Texas, Chuy Garcia of Illinois, Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, Greg Landsman of Ohio, Zoe Lofgren of California.
Biden quits presidential race
President Joe Biden bowed to pressure yesterday and withdrew from the United States Presidential race.
He made the announcement on his X platform (former Twitter).
‘Heartfelt appreciation’
In his statement, President Biden thanked his Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she was an “extraordinary partner”.
“And let me express my heartfelt appreciation for the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me,” his statement added.
“I believe today and always have: that there is nothing America can’t do – when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America.”
He wrote that he would address the nation on the matter next week.
Last week he returned to his home in Delaware after being diagnosed with Covid, but said on Friday he was looking forward to “getting back on the campaign trail next week”.
He has previously said only the “Lord Almighty” could make him withdraw, but then later said he would consider withdrawing if he had a health condition.
Responding on his Truth Social platform, Republican nominee Donald Trump said that Joe Biden “was not fit to run for President”
Biden endorses Kamala Harris as Democratic presidential nominee
In another development President Biden has endorsed his Vice President Kamala Harris as Democratic presidential nominee.
In his statement Biden said: “My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term.
“My very 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 want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this”.
Biden wasn’t fit to run —Trump
Reacting to Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 election, former President Donald Trump said his former opponent was “not fit to run.”
Trump, in a statement, said: “Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve – And never was.
“All those around him, including his Doctor and the Media, knew that he wasn’t capable of being President, and he wasn’t.
“We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage he has done very quickly. Make America great again.”
