In a surprising announcement, President Joe Biden has ended his re-election campaign, endorsing Vice-President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate. In a statement, Biden, 81, called it the “greatest honour” to serve but said stepping down was “in the best interest of my party and the country.”
Biden’s decision follows a turbulent period marked by his debate performance against Donald Trump on June 27. Despite his withdrawal, Biden will remain president until January. Harris, 59, expressed her honor at being endorsed and pledged to unite the country against Trump.
With 107 days until the election, Harris is gathering endorsements from key Democratic figures, though her official nomination may not happen until the Democratic National Convention in August. Meanwhile, Trump has pulled ahead in polling and was confirmed as the Republican nominee at the party’s convention in Milwaukee, just days after surviving an assassination attempt.
Trump and other senior Republicans have criticized Biden’s fitness to serve and called for his immediate departure from the White House. In contrast, prominent Democrats, including former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, praised Biden’s decision and supported Harris’s candidacy. Obama, while expressing confidence in the Democratic nominee, did not explicitly endorse Harris or any other candidate.
Biden’s withdrawal has spurred calls for an open nomination process, though many in the party are rallying behind Harris. High-profile politicians like California Governor Gavin Newsom and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro have voiced their support, and the Democratic National Committee has renamed its fundraising efforts to reflect Harris’s leadership.
Biden’s decision comes after weeks of scrutiny, including a high-profile NATO summit where he made notable gaffes. Despite these challenges, Biden thanked Harris for her partnership and expressed his appreciation to the American people, emphasizing the collective strength of the United States.
