By: Emily Wang
Recently on 7/ 21/24, President Biden made a historical decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris instead for the Democratic presidential ticket. [Where was this announced? What prompted this decision?]
This monumental decision sets the stage for a presidential race unlike any other, with Mrs. Harris only having 106 days remaining on the clock until the election, and over 4,000 delegates to convince to back her to the Democratic National Convention. “I am honored to have the president’s endorsement and I intend to earn and win this nomination,” Vice President Harris said in a post on X, on 7/ 22. She added: “I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party — and unite our nation — to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.” Vice President Harris also praised President Biden for his accomplishments and for “this selfless and patriotic act”.
The last time President Biden was seen in public, he was getting off Air Force 1 in Delaware, looking rather pale and tentative, pausing every handful of steps, with his mouth agape. When asked for his reactions to Democrats pushing him to withdraw from the presidential race, he only said ”I am doing fine,” and later proceeded to struggle to sit in the presidential limousine. Biden says he would “speak to the nation later this week in more detail about my decision,” as he recovers from COVID at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, but currently, it is still not clear when he will.
Biden officials, who spoke anonymously to the public, described internal considerations, that the President began rethinking his presidential choices last Saturday while in Rehoboth with family members and his three aides: Steve Ricchetti, a counselor and a longtime aide, Annie Tomasini, his Deputy Chief of Staff as well as Anthony Bernal: the First Lady’s Chief of Staff.
Former President Trump responded to President Biden’s announcement not with the grace typically offered in modern American politics when an opponent drops out, but with a characteristically caustic statement. “Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve — And never was!” Mr. Trump wrote on his social media site.
President Biden finalized his choice to abandon the campaign last Sunday morning, making three separate calls to Vice President Harris, Jeffrey D. Zients, the White House Chief of Staff, as well as Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, Biden’s campaign chair. The president then held a video call with senior White House officers and campaign officials to tell them about his decision at 1:45 p.m. The letter was then posted at 1:46 p.m. Throughout 7/21-7/22, aides denied reports that Mr. Biden was rethinking his decision to stay in the race.
As for how Mrs. Kamala wants to continue her campaign, she has already taunted Trump for backing out of debates, has gained enough polls to shorten the gap between Trump immensely, and met with the visiting Israel’s prime minister: Benjamin Netanyahu. She is progressing faster than anyone could have thought. As for Biden’s retirement plans, we don’t really know as of now. However, the only thing we can do now is hope and wait. (And vote while you’re at it!)
Image Credit by Wubr.com