US President Joe Biden announced that he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race following a poor debate performance against Donald Trump, which raised concerns about his fitness for office, AP News reports.
Biden, who will finish his term, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, making her the frontrunner for the party’s nomination. This decision comes just four months before the election and after an attempted assassination of Trump.
Harris, who praised Biden’s decision, now faces the challenge of securing the party’s nomination, choosing a running mate, and reorganizing the campaign. She quickly received endorsements from prominent figures like the Congressional Black Caucus and the Clintons, although former President Obama withheld immediate support, preferring to endorse the eventual nominee.
Biden’s decision, influenced by internal and external pressures, marked a sudden end to his long political career. Despite winning the majority of primary votes, his debate performance led to doubts about his ability to serve another term. Now, Democrats must quickly unify and rally behind Harris to defeat Trump, who has begun to shift his focus towards her.
