'Goryeong Controversy' Biden Resigns Three Months Before Election
Vice President Harris Gains Support... Clinton and Others Follow
Trump "Easier to Beat Than Biden"
Gonghwa Raises Offensive Against Harris
U.S. President Joe Biden, unable to overcome controversies over his advanced age just over three months before the November presidential election, has abruptly withdrawn from the Democratic presidential nomination. This comes 25 days after facing widespread pressure within the party to quit his presidential bid following a poor performance in the debate on the 27th of last month. President Biden officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the next Democratic presidential candidate, and with former President Bill Clinton and other Democratic lawmakers joining in support, the 'Harris nomination theory' gains momentum as a counter to Republican candidate former President Donald Trump. This unprecedented situation of an incumbent president withdrawing before the official nomination plunges the U.S. presidential race into uncertainty, making changes in both Democratic and Republican election strategies inevitable.
'Debate Disaster' Biden Ultimately Withdraws Amid Age Controversy
On the 21st (local time), President Biden posted a statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), saying, "For the best interests of my party and country, I will step down from the presidential race and focus on fulfilling my remaining presidential duties." He added, "Serving as your president has been the greatest honor of my life," and said, "I will provide more details about my decision later this week."
Biden expressed his support for Vice President Harris as the new Democratic presidential candidate. In a follow-up post on X, he said, "Selecting Kamala Harris as vice president in 2020 was the best decision," and emphasized, "I want to express my full support for Kamala to become our party's candidate this year." He also stressed, "Democrats, now is the time to come together and defeat Trump."
Earlier, during the debate on the 27th of last month, Biden's stammering and vacant stares sparked controversy over his age and cognitive abilities. Following the debate, concerns about a Democratic loss intensified, leading to calls within the party for a candidate replacement. The shooting incident involving former President Trump on the 13th of last month further galvanized conservative voters, heightening the party's sense of crisis. Over 30 Democratic lawmakers publicly demanded Biden's withdrawal, and senior Democrats including former President Barack Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged him directly or indirectly to quit. Despite declaring his intention to complete the race and holding out for nearly a month, the six-term senator and seasoned politician Biden ultimately gave up his bid for re-election.
The New York Times (NYT) reported, "Biden succumbed to persistent pressure from aides urging him to withdraw amid deep concerns that he was too old and frail to beat Trump," adding, "Biden's withdrawal triggered a crisis over whether the Democrats would rally around Harris or quickly begin efforts to find another candidate."
Democrats Begin Selecting New Presidential Candidate... Harris Nomination or Mini-Election?
With President Biden officially withdrawing from the presidential race, the Democratic Party must begin the process of selecting a new candidate. With the election just three months away and Biden officially endorsing Vice President Harris, the 'Harris nomination theory' is strongly considered as the likely method for choosing the new Democratic candidate. However, there are also voices within the party advocating for a 'mini-election,' and potential candidates within the party may express their intentions to run, leaving some variables.
The final deadline for selecting the Democratic presidential candidate is the Democratic National Convention scheduled for next month 19-22 in Chicago, Illinois. Originally, the Democrats aimed to finalize their candidate by the 7th of next month, considering registration deadlines in some states. However, with Biden's withdrawal, the schedule and method for selecting the next candidate will likely be subject to further discussion. Potential Democratic candidates include Vice President Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
Some speculate that given the limited time before the candidate selection deadline and the need to quickly resolve internal party confusion, nominating Vice President Harris is the most practical option. Biden's sudden withdrawal announcement and official endorsement of Harris are seen as reflecting this situation. Senior Democrats including former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as Democratic lawmakers, have expressed their support for Harris in succession. Through X, Bill and Hillary Clinton emphasized, "Now is the time to support Kamala Harris and fight with everything we have to get her elected," adding, "We will do everything we can to support Harris."
Additionally, if Harris becomes the candidate, it ensures policy continuity and facilitates the transfer of campaign funds. Her identity as an Indian-American Black woman also broadens the support base. Vice President Harris stated, "I am honored to have the president's support," and "I will be nominated and win the election." She emphasized, "I will do everything I can to unite the Democratic Party and the United States, and to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda."
Trump vs. Harris Showdown? Republicans Intensify Attacks on Harris
Former President Trump immediately launched an offensive after Biden announced his withdrawal and officially endorsed Vice President Harris. On his social media platform Truth Social, he declared, "Corrupt Joe Biden was unfit to run for president," adding, "He was certainly unfit to serve as president and never was fit." Regarding Vice President Harris, he told CNN on the same day, "Harris is an easier opponent to beat than Biden in the November election."
Local U.S. media reported that the Republican Party had already intensified its attacks on Vice President Harris during the convention held from the 15th to 18th. According to The Washington Post (WP), the Republicans mentioned Vice President Harris about 160 times during last week's convention. In 2020, Harris was mentioned about 20 times, but this time she was referenced seven times more.
Poll results also show that Harris has stronger general election competitiveness against Trump than Biden. According to an Ipsos poll conducted on the 16th among 992 U.S. voters, Harris tied with Trump at 44% support in a hypothetical one-on-one matchup. Meanwhile, Biden trailed Trump 41% to 43%.
The NYT assessed, "The Republicans have been watching Harris as an alternative to lead the Democrats if Biden steps down," adding, "Harris has long been seen as a key figure with the potential to energize women, young voters, and voters of color." It further noted, "Biden's decision to withdraw and endorse Harris as the new Democratic candidate gives Harris, the first female and woman of color vice president, another historic opportunity."
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