President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, ending his reelection bid. The sudden announcement, lower than 4 months before the election, rocked a campaign that had been seen as shaky.
Biden’s withdrawal announcement has thrown the race for the White House into turmoil, especially after the assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania. It is the primary time a serious party candidate has withdrawn so near the election.
Biden left the race under pressure from Democrats, particularly after a poor performance within the June 27 debate. During the controversy, the 81-year-old lost focus, often gave irrelevant answers and did not counter the previous president’s lies. Shortly after his withdrawal, Biden expressed support for Harris, as seen in his X post.
Harris praised Biden’s decision as a “selfless and patriotic act” and said she intends to “secure and win” the party’s nomination. She pledged to proceed to work with the American people and to unite the Democratic Party to defeat Trump and the intense agenda of Project 2025. “We have 107 days until Election Day. Together we are going to fight. And together we are going to win,” she added.
Harris faces significant challenges: securing delegate support to win the party’s nomination, selecting her vice presidential running mate and adjusting policies which have previously been directed against Biden. If elected, Harris can be the primary woman and first person of South Asian descent to function president of a superpower.
