Joe Biden withdraws from US presidential race, endorses Kamala Harris as Democratic presidential nominee

US President Joe Biden on Sunday announced that he has decided to ‘stand down’ as Democratic Party‘s Presidential candidate in the forthcoming elections, following his fellow party members losing faith in his mental stability and lack of confidence to beat Donald Trump.

Furthermore, Biden has extended his full support to Vice President Kamala Harris to run for President against Trump.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. 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,” Biden said in a letter to his countrymen.

It is to be noted that Biden’s term ends on January 20, 2025.

The decision follows mounting pressure from his fellow Democrats to withdraw from contention following his performance in the June 27 debate. During the debate, Biden struggled with coherence, frequently provided unclear responses, and did not challenge the former president’s numerous false statements.

Also Read: The final days: How Joe Biden and his inner circle blew itThe 81-year-old President also expressed gratitude to his colleague and US Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her an ‘extraordinary partner’.”For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me,” he said.

President Biden also reflected on the progress made during his tenure, highlighting the nation’s robust economic standing, substantial investments in infrastructure, and advancements in healthcare accessibility.

He underscored legislative milestones such as the landmark climate legislation and reforms in gun safety, emphasizing America’s strengthened global leadership.

“I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world,” he further said.

Also Read: Once defiant, Biden is now ‘soul searching’ about dropping out of race

Why is Biden quitting?
The June 27 debate performance sparked doubts about Biden’s ability to lead effectively for another term, shifting public focus from policy debates to concerns over his fitness for office.

In subsequent days, his comments in interviews further fuelled apprehensions within his party. He appeared dismissive of Democratic concerns and indifferent to widening gaps in opinion polls.

The decision not to pursue reelection comes after 36 congressional Democrats publicly called on Biden to withdraw from the race, representing a notable segment of the party’s congressional caucus.

Notably, the Democrats hold 213 seats in the House of Representatives and 51 in the Senate.

Shortly after Biden had been diagnosed with Covid, forcing him off the campaign trail and into quarantine, marked the end for him in this race.

Kamala Harris: Biden’s pick for Prez
President Biden has endorsed his colleague and current Vice President Kamala Harris as his pick to run for US Presidency.

In another post on X, the Democrat leader said that he wants to offer ‘full support and endorsement’ for Harris to be the nominee of their party this year.

“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,” he said.