Unexpectedly, Joe Biden dropped out of the US presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s new candidate. This has massively changed the dynamics of the 2024 White House race.
Following weeks of pressure following a tough June debate against Donald Trump, Biden, 81, claimed stepping down was “in the best interest of my party and the country”, after questions were raised about his age and mental health.
The election has energized the Democratic Party and thrown it into turmoil ahead of the November 5 election. Kamala Harris has quickly reaffirmed her goal of “defeating Donald Trump” and becoming the first female president of the United States.
Trump responded by tweeting on his Truthout social network that Biden’s absence showed he was “not fit to serve.” Republicans are suffering from the shift because their campaign has focused mostly on Biden. Trump, 78, will now face a much younger opponent.
Though Biden was expected to go, official word unexpectedly leaked while he was at his Delaware beach house recovering from COVID-19. Biden said in a statement sent out on social media that serving as president has been “the greatest honor of my life” and declared his full support for Harris.
Key Democratic leaders, including potential contenders like California Governor Gavin Newsom, soon endorsed Harris. ActBlue, a Democratic fund-raising organization, said Harris raised $27.5 million from small donors in five hours.
Now the Democratic Party has to choose a new candidate at its convention in Chicago on August 19. Harris, the first Black and South Asian vice president, praised Biden for his “selfless and patriotic act” and promised to help him get nominated and win the election.
