Why Did Joe Biden Pull Out Of Presidential Race Against Trump?

Washington: President of the US Joe Biden, on Sunday, withdrew from the US Presidential race. Biden stated that he was not seeking re-election thus ending his 2024 bid and also endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.

Biden 'Gets Defensive' After Pelosi Tells Him He Can't Beat Trump

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in a private call, had recently indicted Biden that he could not defeat the former President of the US and Republican Party's nominee Donald Trump in the US Presidential elections. As per a CNN report, a defensive Biden had told Pelosi that he had seen polls that indicated he could win. Biden’s re-election attempt was already being impacted by growing dissent among top Democrats after his disastrous debate performance against Trump last month.  

The top two Democrats in the US Congress, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries were both reported to have met Biden individually to express concerns over his bid for the White House.

Democrats Must Now Navigate A Shift

The Democrats now must navigate a shift that is unprecedented this late in an election year. The announcement by the 81-year-old Biden who is the oldest sitting president in the United States’ history came amid mounting pressure from his fellow Democrats, with over 30 Congress members publicly pushing for his exit.

Age Catching Up?

People across the globe shared their concerns after the octogenarian struggled to recall words and facts.

Owing to his health troubles, his inability to land an argument against his opponent and former US President Donald Trump was deeply concerning for his fellow Americans, which only aggravated the concerns rather than dispelling them. 

Sparking further concerns about his ill health, during a recent rally in Michigan, Biden, who had assured voters of his good health, mistakenly referred to Rep. Debbie Dingell as "Debbie Haley" instead of her correct name.

He also made an unusual comment about Dingell, noting that she resembled his wife, First Lady Jill Biden. Earlier, during a NATO-Ukraine Council meeting, Biden called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "Vladimir Putin" before quickly correcting himself. 

Biden Accidentally Refers Harris As Trump

The confusion continued later at a news conference concluding the summit, where Biden accidentally referred to Harris as “Vice President Trump.”

What Happens to Biden's Campaign Money?

Biden's campaign recently reported USD 91 million cash on hand. Allied Democratic campaign committees brought the total at his disposal to more than USD 240 million. Campaign finance experts agree generally that Harris could control all those funds since the campaign was set up in her name as well as Biden's.

If Democrats do nominate someone other than Harris, party accounts could still benefit the nominee, but the Biden-Harris account would have more restrictions. For example, legal experts say it could become an independent expenditure political action committee but not simply transfer its balance to a different nominee. (with AP inputs)