WASHINGTON – U.S. President Joe Biden bowed to weeks of mounting pressure on Sunday by withdrawing as the Democratic candidate in the country’s looming presidentail election.
His decision to step aside, announced in a letter posted to social media, came after Democrats spoke out in increasing numbers to voice concerns over the 81-year-old’s mental acuity and ability to win the faceoff with Republican rival Donald Trump.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden wrote in the letter posted to X, formerly known as Twitter.
“And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
The Democrats’ calls for Biden to drop out of the race began after a disastrous debate performance against Trump and multiple missteps on the world stage during the recent NATO leaders’ summit in Washington.
Biden told supporters Friday he was ready to get back on the road this week after recovering from COVID-19, which he contracted during a critical time for his campaign.
Biden criticized Trump’s acceptance speech at last week’s Republican National Convention, saying it presented a dark vision for the future, and indicated he would forge ahead with his own campaign.
But he changed direction on Sunday afternoon, first sharing his announcement online then throwing his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris about 30 minutes later.
“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,” Biden posted on social media.
Matthew Lebo, a specialist in U.S. politics at Western University in London, Ont., said he previously thought Biden was still best positioned to beat Trump in November. In recent days, he wasn’t so sure.
Trump and his newly announced running mate JD Vance have put forward policies that are “enormous softballs” that most Americans are against, Lebo said.
“Biden is unable to hit them, let’s them go by,” Lebo said.
It’s also been reported that Democrats are having a harder time raising money just four months from election day.
Lebo said the clock was ticking and the election was looming. The Democrats and Biden had to make a decision.
“A different ticket could revitalize this and it’s getting to the point they might as well try,” Lebo said.
Harris – especially with a running mate like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer – could give some strength back to the party in important blue-wall states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, Lebo said.
The election is about reproductive rights and privacy and a change could bring more women and younger voters to the polls, he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2024.
— With files from The Associated Press
Read more on the U.S. Election at thestar.com
