The Biggest Moments Leading To Biden’s Decision

President Joe Biden has declared his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, a surprising turn in the political landscape shaped by internal pressures from Democratic Party leaders who doubted his chances of winning against former President Donald Trump.

The announcement opens a new chapter of uncertainty for the 2024 elections, positioning Vice President Kamala Harris as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. Biden officially endorsed Harris, emphasizing her qualifications and his confidence in her capabilities. In response, Harris expressed her determination to win the nomination through her own efforts, acknowledging the endorsement but focusing on the broader electoral challenge.

The backdrop to Biden’s withdrawal was a series of events that raised concerns about his campaign’s viability. The most significant of these was his debate performance on June 27 in Atlanta, where he visibly struggled against Trump. His hoarse voice and hesitant delivery led to immediate doubts within his party about his effectiveness as a candidate.

Following the debate, notable figures such as CNN political analyst Van Jones openly critiqued Biden’s performance, suggesting the party might need to consider another candidate if Biden could not reassure both the public and the party base.

The debate’s fallout continued into early July, with reports on July 3 of major Democratic donors expressing their unrest after Biden’s debate appearance. These donors were reportedly dissatisfied with the explanations provided for Biden’s underperformance, which were attributed to a cold. The White House confirmed Biden’s illness but denied any impact from medication, which did little to quell the donors’ concerns.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey was the first Democratic governor to publicly suggest Biden reconsider his candidacy, emphasizing his past contributions but questioning his current suitability as the party’s best option against Trump. Around the same time, Biden defended his mental fitness and dismissed suggestions of withdrawing in a nationally broadcast interview, attributing the poor debate showing to fatigue and illness.

Despite these reassurances, criticism continued to mount. On July 9, amidst ongoing speculation about his commitment to a second term, the White House affirmed that Biden intended to serve fully if re-elected. However, this was overshadowed by continued public concern and a notable editorial by actor George Clooney on July 10, calling for a new nominee due to perceived electoral risks with Biden as the candidate.

Further complicating matters, Biden’s verbal gaffe at a NATO summit on July 11, where he mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “President Putin,” added to perceptions of his faltering capacity. This incident occurred amidst other public engagements, including a high-profile interview following an assassination attempt on Trump, where Biden cautiously resumed his critique of Trump.

The culmination of these events was marked by Biden’s decision to end his campaign, announced from his home in Rehoboth Beach on July 21. He expressed his pride in his tenure but stated that stepping down was in the best interest of both his party and the country. Following his announcement, he threw his full support behind Harris, urging unity in the party to focus on the upcoming electoral battle against Trump.