Biden nominates VP Kamala, pulls out of US presidential race

Biden nominates VP Kamala, pulls out of US presidential race

United States President Joe Biden has pulled out of the 2024 presidential race.

He immediately endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s nominee, saying, “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.”

He announced on Sunday that he would no longer be seeking a second term.

Instead, he expressed support for Kamala to be chosen by Democrats to face off against Republican nominee Donald Trump in November in a race that has already been marked by tension, division and an assassination attempt.

Biden said in a letter addressed to fellow Americans, saying, “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.”

He had been under intense pressure from the Democrats to quit the race after his last debate with Trump where he performed poorly, showing incoherence, among others.

In the letter posted on X he wrote: “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.”

Biden’s wife Jill Biden reposted the statement on X with a loveheart.

Meanwhile, Trump in a reaction to the development told CNN that Harris would be easier to beat.

CNN reported that it got on the phone with Trump not long after Biden bowed out of the presidential race, who told the network that Kamala Harris should be easier to beat.