An American election year like no other: months before the election, Joe Biden gave up his presidential candidacy. And suggests Vice President Kamala Harris.
The pressure was too much: Joe Biden withdraws his presidential candidacy in 2024 Photo: Susan Walsh/AP/dpa
WASHINGTON dpa | US President Joe Biden will no longer run for a second term in the November elections. The Democrat announced his victory via social media Instagram, Facebook and X his withdrawal from the presidential race. In recent weeks, the 81-year-old has come under enormous pressure from within his own party because of his age and mental state. Biden’s withdrawal so close to the election is a dramatic turnaround and creates further chaos in an already historic election year in the US.
We would like to show you external content here. You decide whether you want to see this element as well.
I agree that external content is displayed to me. This means that personal data can be sent to third-party platforms. Read more about our privacy policy.
“While it was my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interests of my party and the country that I step aside and focus solely on fulfilling the duties of my president for the remainder of my term,” the Democrat wrote in a written statement. “I will speak to the nation in more detail about my decision later this week.”
Also on X defeated Biden shortly after his replacement Kamala Harris as a replacement candidate for the November election. Choosing Harris as his running mate in 2020 was the best decision he made, Biden said. “Today, I want to express my full support for Kamala as our party’s nominee this year,” the message continued.
The crisis of the past few weeks
Biden was after a disastrous performance in a televised duel against former President Trump In late June, it came under extreme criticism. During the exchange of blows, the most powerful man in the world regularly became confused, lost the thread, stared into space with his mouth open and often could not finish his sentences properly. Within the Democratic Party and among the population, there were already reservations about Biden’s re-election ambitions because of Biden’s age. But after the duel, the debate about Biden’s suitability as a Democratic presidential candidate flared up to a whole new level – and in full public view.
After the debate, Biden’s poll numbers deteriorated significantly again. And within his own party, one after another came forward to publicly call on Biden to withdraw from the presidential race. The president himself initially tried to apologize. He justified his poor performance with fatigue from strenuous travel abroad. He did not listen to his advisers and overestimated himself. In several appearances, he seemed defiant and repeatedly assured that he would not withdraw. But more mistakes followed. And eventually, the pressure from within became too much.
Biden had retreated to his private home in Rehoboth, Delaware, in recent days after contracting the coronavirus and made no public appearances. During his forced hiatus, he decided to bow to pressure from his party members.
Democrats face a monumental task
Democrats must now change their behavior as quickly as possible. Kamala Harris, 59, has so far remained pale in her vice-presidential role at Biden’s side, but has recently received the support of several key party members in view of his weakness. The Democrats will officially nominate their presidential candidate at a party conference in Chicago in mid-August.
The Republicans have theirs Presidential candidate Donald Trump has already been officially chosen at a nominating party conference in MilwaukeeUntil recently, Biden had repeatedly claimed that he was the only one who could beat Trump.
An election year like never before
Even before this greatest possible complication, this American election year was one that stands out in all respectsespecially with regard to the Republican candidate. In Trump, a convicted felon is running for the highest office in the state. The Republican was the first former president of the United States to be found guilty in a criminal case – for concealing a hush-money payment to a porn actress. This has not hurt the 78-year-old in the election campaign so far. He has other criminal cases pending, although it is unlikely that those cases will go to trial before Election Day.
The most recent US election year, 2020, was already chaotic. Trump did not accept his election defeat to Biden, but instead tried to overturn the election results with drastic measures. His campaign culminated in a violent attack by his supporters on the US Capitol, in which several people were killed.