The withdrawal of U.S. President Joe Biden from the Democratic presidential nomination was carried out so abruptly that the election campaign was informed just one minute before, only 107 days ahead of the November election. This came 25 days after his defeat in the first TV debate, which highlighted concerns about his advanced age. As the U.S. presidential race enters a foggy phase, the momentum is building for Vice President Kamala Harris, who is 59 years old this year, to be nominated as the Republican candidate Donald Trump’s rival.
Biden Hobbled by Age Controversy Withdraws, U.S. Election Landscape Rapidly Shifts
On the 21st (local time), President Biden announced his withdrawal from the Democratic presidential nomination through a statement posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), saying, "For the best interests of the party and the country, I will step aside and focus on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term." He also confirmed his support for Vice President Harris as the new presidential candidate. He emphasized, "Democrats, now is the time to come together and defeat former President Trump."
Biden’s withdrawal came 25 days after the first TV presidential debate on the 27th of last month, which sparked controversy over his age and cognitive abilities. Since then, over 30 Democratic lawmakers publicly called for his resignation, and senior Democrats such as former President Barack Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have indirectly urged him to quit. The New York Times (NYT) assessed that "amid deep concerns that 81-year-old President Biden is too old and frail to beat former President Trump, he succumbed to persistent pressure from close aides to withdraw from the race."
This is the first time in history that a sitting U.S. president has given up a re-election bid with only the party’s official candidate selection process remaining. As an unprecedented situation plunges the U.S. presidential race into uncertainty, changes in election strategies for both the Democratic and Republican parties are inevitable. Local media, including CNN, reported that Biden’s resignation decision was made secretly within 48 hours over the weekend, to the extent that even Vice President Harris was informed on the same day.
The Democratic Party, having lost its presidential candidate, must immediately begin a new candidate selection process. Amid divided opinions such as mini-primaries, the ‘Harris nomination theory’ is currently considered the most likely. Given the limited time left before the Democratic presidential candidate selection deadline and the need to quickly resolve internal turmoil, this is seen as the most practical option. The final deadline for selecting the Democratic presidential candidate is the Democratic National Convention scheduled for next month from the 19th to the 22nd in Chicago, Illinois.
Biden’s official endorsement of Vice President Harris as the new candidate upon announcing his withdrawal is also interpreted as a move considering this situation. Senior Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton and his wife, as well as Democratic lawmakers, have expressed their support for Harris one after another, lending strength to her candidacy.
Harris’s Strengths: Policy Continuity and Expanding Support Base
If Vice President Harris becomes the Democratic presidential candidate, it will ensure policy continuity and facilitate the transfer of campaign funds. Additionally, as an Indian-American Black woman, she can expand support among minorities and women, which is considered a strong advantage. Especially for the Democratic Party, there is hope that she can regain the votes of minorities, including Black voters, who have recently shown signs of drifting toward former President Trump’s camp. She is also a good card to bring key election issues such as race and abortion to the forefront of the campaign.
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."
Besides Harris, other Democratic presidential candidates mentioned include California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The possibility of former First Lady Michelle Obama, wife of former President Barack Obama, entering the race cannot be completely ruled out. In an Ipsos poll, Mrs. Obama was the only hypothetical candidate who could beat former President Trump. However, Mrs. Obama has repeatedly stated that she has no intention of running, and other Democratic candidates have also expressed support for Vice President Harris.
Vice President Harris has effectively started campaigning, contacting members of both the House and Senate since the evening of the announcement. Biden’s presidential campaign has also changed its name to "Harris for President."
Meanwhile, Republican candidate former President Trump downplayed Harris on CNN, saying, "Vice President Harris is an easier opponent to beat than President Biden in the November election." Local media noted that most Democratic presidential candidates are in their 50s, and that 78-year-old former President Trump is now facing the same age-related attacks he had previously directed at President Biden.
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