A POLITICAL expert has called President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 election an inevitable move but added that it likely spells bad news for Republicans.
Biden, 81, announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sunday that he’s standing down to “focus on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
He said that he supports Vice President Kamala Harris, 59, as the Democratic presidential nominee.
Political expert David Richards told The U.S. Sun that Biden dropping out of the election is “probably bad news for Republicans.”
“Trump had been banking on running against ‘Sleepy Joe,'” he added.
Richards explained that Harris needed to “get grass roots support to legitimize her candidacy.”
“I was struck by how Biden directly endorsed Harris,” he stated.
“I would have thought he would have left that up to the party at the convention so that members of the party felt like they had a say in the process.”
It might be Trump who now, comparatively, looks old and tired.
Political expert David Richards
The expert shared his thoughts about Biden’s first debate against Donald Trump, 78, saying the 45th US president “had to do very little work to look good against a clearly ailing Biden.”
“Now he will have to step up against, potentially, a much younger and more vibrant opponent,” Richards added, referring to the former president versus Harris.
Biden’s major decision is being described as him finally caving into pressure following the fallout of his disastrous June 27 debate performance.
During the primetime event, the president’s cognitive decline was highlighted multiple times.
“It might be Trump who now, comparatively, looks old and tired.”
The political science professor said that it has been “increasingly clear that Biden did not have universal support from the members of his own party.”
He said that’s despite “what voters also thought.”
The political pro leaned into what Biden said in the announcement he made about stepping down as the 46th US president explained that he would like to focus on the rest of his term.
What happens next as Joe Biden drops out of the 2024 race?
President Biden has finally heeded calls to drop his bid for re-election, throwing the 2024 election into chaos. He has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris but naming a new Democratic nominee won't be a simple process. Here's what's next after Biden's stunning announcement.
Biden secured nearly 4,000 delegates by winning state caucuses and primaries earlier this year. He was set to officially be named the Democratic nominee at a virtual vote ahead of the Democratic National Convention, which begins on August 19.
Democratic party rules don’t allow Biden to simply pass his 3,896 delegates to Harris or another candidate.
Harris will now have to convince those nearly 4,000 delegates and 700 superdelegates to support her and name her nominee.
However, delegates are free agents who can choose to support whichever candidate they want – likely without input from voters at this stage since primaries and caucuses were already held.
All eyes are now on the previously planned virtual vote – where the Democratic party could choose a nominee before the DNC begins.
Biden’s endorsement of Harris will likely sway delegates and no one has publicly challenged her as a candidate – but delegates are not required to back her. Even if the virtual vote isn’t held, the party could still choose Harris or another candidate before the convention.
If Democrats don’t name their nominee before the DNC, it’ll be the first open and contested convention since 1968.
“Biden can now take a back seat, finish his term knowing that he has done his best and probably saved the Democrats from a drubbing,” Richards said.
“Had he stayed on, the Democrats down ticket, the state and local races might have been hurt by the lack of enthusiasm for Biden.”
In the letter that Biden shared, he stated: “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,” the commander-in-chief added.
“We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world. It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President.”
The president went on to say how he’s grateful “to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected.”
Joe Biden's full letter announcing his withdrawal from campaign
On Sunday, July 21, 2024, 46th US president Joe Biden posted a letter X, formerly known as Twitter, announcing he's stepping down from the 2024 presidential race.
My Fellow Americans,
Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation.
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 revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.
It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And 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 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 reelected. 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.
I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can’t do – when we do it together.
We just have to remember we are the United States of America