Joe Biden, the 81-year-old President, has finally withdrawn from the 2024 election on 21st June. Despite the party's pressure, he had been reluctant to step down from the presidential race, believing he could run another term with his limited, glitch-prone memory. This was considered an unprecedented move in American political history, as it was the first time a candidate had dropped out so late from the race (Firstpost, 2024).
Biden announced his exit in a document posted on his Twitter account (Srivastava, 2024), stating, “I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
After his withdrawal, Biden endorsed his Vice President, Kamala Harris, for the presidential nomination, significantly altering the trajectory of the 2024 US elections. Although Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, has a strong chance of winning, Democrats have shown renewed hope in Kamala Harris, who quickly garnered widespread support within 24 hours. (Firstpost, 2024)
This article will explore the reasons behind Biden’s last-minute decision, its implications for the Democratic Party and US politics, the next Democrat candidate in line, and, most importantly, the status of Donald Trump and his campaign.
Reasons for Biden’s Sudden Exit
Joe Biden's decision to step aside was influenced by various factors, as reported by Hindustan Times. The sequence of events is as follows:
On Saturday, i.e. 20th of July, after consulting his close party members, Biden concluded that stepping aside was in the best interest of the party. He subsequently asked Ricchetti and Donilon to draft a public announcement letter. The letter came out as a surprise for the world on the Sunday afternoon, 21st July.
Biden and Kamala Harris engaged in several discussions on the matter, although Harris only became aware of the final decision on the day it was announced. Biden informed his key advisors, Jeff Zients and Jen O'Malley Dillon, of his decision shortly before the public announcement.
The key factors that led to his withdrawal from the presidential race:
Major donors withdrew millions of dollars, expressing concerns about Biden's ability to compete against Donald Trump. The financial setback happened in the wake of unfavorable poll numbers, with Trump leading in swing states. Additionally, prominent Democrats such as Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama showed apprehension about Biden's candidacy, contributing to a lack of support from within the party (Firstpost, 2024).
The pressure from party members was quite obvious, especially after a disastrous debate on June 27th, which shook Biden's campaign and caused a significant loss of support from both the masses and the party. Biden's attempts at damage control by appearing in interviews and calling for another debate further highlighted his soft spots. Case in point: at the NATO summit on July 11th, his forgetfulness—mistaking Zelensky for Putin—created another setback. Consequently, George Clooney, one of the important donors urged Biden to step down, but Biden still chose to stay in the spotlight (Firstpost, 2024).
Worries about his age and ability to handle another term were prevalent, with many believing that an additional five years in office could be disastrous for the United States.
A recent major setback was Biden testing positive for the Wuhan virus. He has been recuperating at his Delaware home with family, which further fueled concerns about having a weak and sick president. Considering these mounting challenges, Biden concluded that stepping aside was in the best interest of the party (Firstpost, 2024).
Implications of Biden’s Decision
If Joe Biden had stepped down a bit earlier, it could have been a boon for the Democrats. But his late exit has created chaos in the party. With only four months left until the election, the Democrats are now facing serious trouble. Biden’s decision to endorse Kamala Harris as his successor has introduced both opportunities and challenges.
Biden had previously stated he would only consider stepping down if polling data indicated that Kamala Harris had a better chance against Trump in the upcoming election, which is now only four months away. Recent polls taken after Biden’s weak debate performance against Trump have not suggested that Harris is likelier than Biden to beat Trump in November. Harris supporters have argued those polls may change now that Biden is out of the race (Staff, 2024).
Harris has quickly won support from influential Democrats like Bill and Hillary Clinton, Governor Gavin Newsom, Pete Buttigieg, and Elizabeth Warren (Firstpost, 2024). She raised over $50 million in grassroots donations within 24 hours of Biden’s departure. However, with Biden out, the delegate votes that were previously locked in are now in play. Harris will need to fend off potential challengers to secure her position.
Over the next 110 days, Harris must win over key Democratic leaders like Barack Obama, Chuck Schumer, JB Pritzker, and Hakeem Jeffries. However, she has the backing of one of the most influential Democrats, Nancy Pelosi, which means her nomination is likely (Firstpost, 2024). Harris also needs to select a running mate and craft a strategy to compete against Donald Trump.
Biden’s sudden exit has only added to the chaos within the Democratic Party, impacting its overall image. Despite Harris’s strong start, the party’s lack of clarity and unity could undermine its chances as the election approaches.
Donald Trump’s Campaign
On the other hand, the Republican Party had a clear agenda and a set nominee from the start: Donald Trump. Trump has skillfully turned every controversy and court case into a chance to gain support, dominating the media with his strong, charismatic leadership. This stands in stark contrast to his former rival, Biden, who appeared to be weak and less energetic. Despite his white lies, he did fairly well in the debate—at least better than Biden. In the past week, he survived an assassination attempt where he was shot in the right ear and defiantly shouted ‘Fight’ on stage, which has now become his campaign slogan. He’s secured the presidential nomination and chosen a strong, young running mate, JD Vance, who is ready to follow Trump’s lead. Trump is also making significant gains in the swing states, which are crucial for the election outcome (Firstpost, 2024).
In light of recent events, Trump has claimed that defeating Kamala Harris will be even easier (Firstpost, 2024). However, the entire campaign of Trump till now has been all about the inadequacies of Biden (Halpert, 2024). He mostly attacked the weaknesses of Biden more than his administration. It was a clear win for Trump till now but Kamala Hariss entering the arena will take new turns. The Republicans will have to adopt a new strategy to defeat this young contender who has the potential to garner mass support from various sections of American society.
Conclusion
Comparing the positions of the Republicans and Democrats, the Republicans have had a successful campaign and a clear candidate from the start, facing no significant obstacles so far. In contrast, the Democratic Party appears divided, confused, and disorganized regarding the campaign and the candidates. This instability has significantly damaged the party’s reputation.
Well, it’s never too late to mend. A late bloom is still a bloom. Biden’s decision to drop out and then subsequently endorse the name of Kamala Hariss breathed new life into a dying campaign. However, this will not be enough to win against Trump. There are many obstacles ahead for Kamala Hariss in order to become the party’s Presidential candidate. However, the recent turn of events has changed the entire picture of the upcoming elections.
Sources
Firstpost. (2024a, July 22). LIVE: Biden quits US presidential race, backs Kamala Harris as nominee | Vantage with Palki Sharma [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved July 24, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/live/DWcufxeM3zA?si=4stm0GrYZqtggiWQ
Firstpost. (2024b, July 23). Kamala Harris raises $100 million after Biden’s withdrawal | Vantage with Palki Sharma [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2675WRbnSrg
Halpert, M. (2024, July 23). Biden’s pick Kamala Harris has Democrats’ support. What happens next in US election? https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5xdq71drro
Srivastava, A. (2024, July 22). What made Joe Biden drop out of presidential race? Inside ‘last-minute’ bombshell exit. Hindustan Times. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/what-convinced-joe-biden-to-drop-out-inside-last-minute-bombshell-exit-that-completely-blindsided-his-team-101721610904639.html
Staff, A. J. (2024, July 22). Who is US Vice President Kamala Harris — and can she beat Donald Trump? Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/21/who-is-us-vice-president-kamala-harris-and-can-she-beat-donald
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