Stunning the political landscape, President Biden declared he will not seek re-election in 2024. This notable move follows growing criticism both from key Democratic allies and notable figures within the party as well as influential supporters within the Hollywood sphere. The impetus for this decision came after the President underperformed in a recent debate. It’s an unusual development, as an escalating number of Democratic legislators had started to publicly express their doubts about his victory in the upcoming election against his formidable opponent, the 2024 Republican candidate and former President, Donald Trump.
Previously having tested positive for COVID-19, Biden had participated in number of media appearances and campaign events emphasizing his commitment to stay in the race. Yet, his assurances failed to placate his backers and offered critics more opportunities to question his competency and readiness for the current and another potential term.
Earlier, Biden’s stable leadership and unwavering poise during his welcome speech at the NATO Summit in Washington D.C. had given proponents reason to believe in his continued capability, and interest, in fulfilling his duties for the rest of his term and for another.
Initially, President Biden appeared to be weathering the demands for him to withdraw his candidacy. High-ranking Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, gave their stamp of approval for Biden’s campaign. However, his propensity for unforced errors posed as a stumbling block, climaxing with a significant mistake he made during the same NATO summit.
Biden’s campaign was haunted by a gaffe, when he mistakenly referred to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as ‘Putin’, the Russian leader who has inflicted more than two years of turbulence on Ukraine.
Political circles held their breath in anticipation, as speculations were rife about whether Biden would actually terminate his campaign, remaining the leading topic in the political sphere before the weekend.
However, two monumental events managed to quell the Biden-related buzz temporarily. Conversation veered to the shocking assassination attempt against former President Trump at his rally in Pennsylvania, followed by the revelation of Trump’s VP pick, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, during the Republican National Convention.
Despite these distractions, the issue surrounding Biden promptly resurfaced when Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democratic Senate nominee in California, joined the chorus call for his campaign suspension. Reports suggested other leading Democrats, like Schumer, Jeffries, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, engaged in candid discussions with Biden intensifying his predicament.
The commencement of Biden’s campaign exit landed like a bombshell during an already tumultuous race that lasted beyond a year. His lackluster performance and clumsy responses during June’s presidential debate against Trump in Atlanta seeped out from political corridors and unleashed panic within the Democratic Party. It led to mounting pressure from political insiders, opinion makers and donors for Biden to pass the baton to a new Democratic front-runner.
Amid the turmoil, a growing number of Democrats in the House made their apprehensions public and urged the President to bow out of the race.
In efforts to control the situation, Biden gathered concerned Democrats, including leaders and governors, following the unfortunate debate incidents. He also initiated a ‘phone campaign’ according to his team’s insiders. He reinforced his commitment to his congressional supporters in not just continuing the campaign but also striving for victory over Trump in November.
In spite of their leader’s reassurances, the Democrats’ worries deepened. Despite attempts to rally behind their leader and reach a unified decision, reservations rang loud. Reports from both the White House and Biden’s campaign maintained that there was no intention from the President’s side to withdraw himself from the race.
Biden’s chief deputy campaign manager, Quentin Fulks, even attested saying, ‘the president is in this race to win it. He is the Democratic nominee.’
Despite his stance, Biden’s popularity took a hit as documented by polls showing a dwindling support base, compared to Trump. There was also rising concern about the impact of his age on his capability to lead effectively.
As a result, Biden’s shocking departure from the race brought an end not just to his re-election campaign, but seemingly also to his half-century-long political career. With his first Senate victory in 1972 for his home state of Delaware, Biden achieved significant legislative accomplishments, such as passing the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act and the Violence Against Women Act.
Biden’s legacy covers a wide spectrum of accomplishments,from chairing important Senate committees, overseeing numerous Supreme Court confirmations, to serving eight crucial years as Vice President during Obama’s administration. However, his premature exit from the 2024 Presidential race undeniably casts a pall over his otherwise illustrious career.