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Biden Withdraws from Presidential Race

President Biden has announced his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, marking a dramatic end to his 50-year political career. This unexpected move comes after intense pressure from fellow Democrats, stemming from a poor debate performance on June 27 that raised concerns about his ability to continue.

At 81, Biden revealed on Sunday that he would not seek another term in office, citing questions about his physical and mental fitness that arose following the prime-time debate. During the debate, he struggled to complete sentences, appeared confused, and fumbled his responses, prompting widespread concern.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden wrote in a letter posted to social media. “While it has been my intention to seek reelection, 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.”

Biden stated he would address the nation later in the week about his decision. He did not endorse Vice President Harris or any other candidate as the party’s nominee.

“For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected,” Biden wrote. “I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.”

Despite vowing to stay in the race, Biden faced mounting pressure from Democrats, with more than 30 lawmakers urging him to step aside to preserve the party’s chances in the November election. Privately, prominent figures like former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries conveyed their concerns about his viability against former President Trump.

Biden acknowledged that his debate performance was poor, attributing it to a cold he had caught after a foreign trip. Despite this, his campaign had pushed for an early debate, hoping it would shift the polls in his favor, but it had the opposite effect.

Meanwhile, Trump has gained momentum with recent legal and political victories. The Republican Party, feeling confident after a unified convention in Milwaukee, preferred facing Biden, seeing him as a weakened opponent.

In response to Biden’s withdrawal, some Republicans have hinted at potential legal challenges if Democrats try to replace him on the ballot. Top Trump allies argue that removing Biden after he secured millions of primary votes would be undemocratic, with some even calling it a “coup.”

Senator JD Vance, the GOP’s vice-presidential candidate, questioned Biden’s ability to continue serving. “If Joe Biden ends his reelection campaign, how can he justify remaining President?” Vance posted on social media. “Not running for reelection would be a clear admission that President Trump was right all along about Biden not being mentally fit enough to serve as Commander-in-Chief. There is no middle ground.”

The political landscape is now in flux, with both parties preparing for the challenges ahead in the 2024 election.


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