United States President Joe Biden has announced his decision to resign from the presidential run.
Mr. Biden made his choice four months before the country’s 2024 presidential election. Joe Biden’s campaign has come under fire as panic and worry about his election chances spread throughout the Democratic Party.
The following are notable situations and people who called for his withdrawal:
According to the BBC, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi privately conveyed reservations to Biden about his candidature.
Former President Barack Obama, Biden’s former running mate, has reportedly stated that his chances of winning the race have significantly dropped.
Speaking on why he should quit, US Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, said it was time for Biden to “pass the torch to a new generation.” Leaving the race, Manchin said, would allow Biden to focus on issues the president cared about, including helping Ukraine fend off Russia’s invasion and ending Israel’s war on Gaza.
“He will go down with a legacy unlike many people, as one of the finest and truly a [patriotic] American,” Manchin said. “So, with that, I come with a heavy heart to think the time has come for him to pass the torch to a new generation,” he said during an interview on ABC’s This Week.
In a similar vein, in a letter dated July 6, high-ranking lawmaker Jamie Raskin, a Maryland representative, compared the president to a baseball pitcher whose arm had “tired out.”.
Biden, 81, has consistently and firmly stated that he is “not going anywhere,” encouraging his party to refocus on the mission of defeating Donald Trump. But the calls to withdraw are growing louder as Democratic politicians, funders, and people come out against the president’s candidature.
Also, lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol came out in growing numbers against the idea of Mr. Biden staying in the race.
The calls from the lawmakers began five days after the June 27 debate with Lloyd Doggett, a 15-term Texas congressman, who said that it was time for Mr. Biden to “make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw.”.
Mr. Doggett, 77, a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, said he recognised “all that President Biden has accomplished,” but said the Democrat failed to “effectively defend his many accomplishments” during the discussion. Only three senators publicly urged Mr. Biden to withdraw.
They include Vermont’s Peter Welch, New Mexico’s Martin Heinrich, and Montana’s Jon Tester, who is seeking reelection.
They have been joined by House colleagues such as Adam Schiff, California’s likely next senator, and other lawmakers facing close re-election races.
Others are Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, Mike Quigley of Illinois, Angie Craig of Minnesota, Adam Smith of Washington, Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, Pat Ryan of New York, Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, Hillary Scholten of Michigan, Brad Schneider of Illinois, Ed Case of Hawaii, and Greg Stanton of Arizona.
The rest are, Jim Himes of Connecticut, Scott Peters of California, Eric Sorensen of Illinois, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington State, Mike Levin of California, Brittany Pettersen of Colorado, Jim Costa of California, Sean Casten of Illinois, Jared Huffman of California, Marc Veasey of Texas, Chuy Garcia of Illinois, Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, Greg Landsman of Ohio, and Zoe Lofgren of California.
Reacting to Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential election, former President Donald Trump said his former opponent was “not fit to run.”
Trump, in a statement, said: “Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for president and is certainly not fit to serve—and never was.
“All those around him, including his doctor and the media, knew that he wasn’t capable of being president, and he wasn’t.
“We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage he has done very quickly. Make America great again.”
