Washington: On Sunday, US President Joe Biden declared his intention to quit the White House contest to elect the next President of the United States. He said, “While it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down.”
The 81-year-old Biden supported Vice President Kamala Harris to fill his seat on the ticket, stating, “Today, I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala Harris to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats—it’s time to come together and beat Trump.”
Harris will become the first African-American woman and the first Indian-American to receive the candidacy of a major political party for the White House if the Democratic Party officially nominates her at the convention in August.
However, it would not be easy for Harris to get nominated. It’s unclear if she will have to compete against opponents and how that would go. Whether the decision is made by counting the delegates secured by the Biden-Harris ticket or by holding an open convention where delegates are free to vote for any other candidate they like. Governors Gavin Newsom of California, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Roy Cooper of North Carolina, and Senator Mark Kelly, together with businessman and investor Mark Cuban, are among the other candidates who may run for the nomination.
In 56 years, Biden was the only sitting president to decline the opportunity to run for office again. Whether he had also become the first US President to withdraw his candidacy for reelection following his victory in the primaries and before to his official coronation as the party’s nominee at the national convention could not be determined right away.
With a Covid-19 infection, President Biden has been isolating himself at home in Delaware. Following a dismal showing in the first presidential debate against his Republican opponent, former President Trump, he was under increasing pressure to step down and make room for a different candidate for the party.
“Over the past three-and-a-half years, we have made great progress as a Nation,” he wrote in a letter addressed to “fellow Americans.”
“Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. We’ve provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years.”
“Appointed the first African-American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today.”
“I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once-in-a-century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalised and strengthened our alliances around the world.”
“It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
“I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision.”
“For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me re-elected. 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.”
In his first statement about his exit, Biden merely thanked Harris for her cooperation. He endorsed her fully in a subsequent statement.
“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice-President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today 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.”
–IANS
