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After announcing his withdrawal from the race, the American president brought his “full support in Kamala [Harris] to be the candidate” of the Democratic Party in the November election. The vice president reacted, saying “honored” of this support, in a press release on Sunday July 21. Kamala Harris said she counts “win the nomination” Democrat for the presidential election in view of “beat Donald Trump”. She also greeted “the selfless and patriotic act” of the 81-year-old president. “I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party – and unite our nation.”she wrote.
Joe Biden announces withdrawal of candidacy. “I believe it is in the interest of my party and the country that I step down and focus solely on carrying out my duties as president until the end of my term.”the 81-year-old Democrat said in a statement. This shock announcement comes less than four months before the election and after weeks of questioning the physical and mental condition of the Democratic president.
Many reactions. The announcement sparked a number of reactions from both Democrats and Republicans. Former President Barack Obama spoke of “one of the most important American presidents”. For its part, the Trump team has affirmed that Kamala Harris will be “even worse” than Joe Biden. “Kamala Harris is just as ridiculous as Joe Biden”said Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, who are leading the Republican candidate’s campaign, in a joint statement.
Pressure for several weeks. More than 30 Democratic elected officials have been asking the outgoing president for several weeks to make way for a younger candidate. The latest, influential independent senator Joe Manchin, a voice that counts on the American political spectrum and an old friend of Joe Biden, declared: “I have a heavy heart, but I think it is time for him to pass the torch to a new generation.”
A catastrophic debate. Joe Biden’s disastrous performance in his debate on June 27 against Donald Trump precipitated events. That day, from the first seconds of the verbal joust that he himself had called for, it was a very weakened president who appeared in front of the screens of his dismayed supporters. With a cat in his throat forcing him to cough often, he got tangled up more than once, sometimes unable to finish his sentences. A painful spectacle that brought to light doubts about his ability to be able to assume a second term.