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President Joe Biden has endorsed his Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democrat nominee for the 2024 presidential polls, shortly after he opted out of the race.
“I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this,” he said in a statement released on social media.
Biden’s withdrawal from the race ends months of speculation about the octogenarian’s ability to seek re-election due to health concerns—-one that has been a major talking point after his disappointing performance during the debate against Donald Trump on June 27.
Democratic leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed reservations about his candidacy. Some high-ranking Democrats urged the president to step down. More than 30 congressional Democrats had urged him to step aside, echoing concerns raised by donors and former President Barack Obama.
Biden, who has been self-isolating since testing positive for COVID-19, brought a twist to the election after he withdrew from the race “to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
His decision not to seek re-election makes him the first incumbent president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 to opt out of a second term amid national challenges.
