President Biden Exits 2024 Presidential Race Amid Debate Fallout

Amidst growing discontent within the Democratic party, President Joe Biden has unexpectedly announced his decision to suspend his reelection campaign, sending shockwaves through the political landscape just months before the midterm elections.

The sudden move comes on the heels of a lackluster debate performance against Republican opponent and former President Donald Trump, which saw Biden appear lost and struggling to articulate his thoughts. Despite campaign efforts to use the debate as an opportunity to revitalize his campaign, Biden’s poor showing has instead fueled calls for him to step aside as the party’s 2024 nominee.

Congressman Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first elected Democrat to publicly question Biden’s suitability for the nomination, citing concerns over his mental fitness for office. “While I have the utmost respect for President Biden’s achievements, I believe it is time for him to consider stepping down and allowing a new candidate to take the reins,” Doggett said in a statement.

Other Democrats, including Representatives Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, have also weighed in, urging Biden to recognize the reality of his chances against Trump. “We’ve all seen what happened in the debate, and it’s clear that Biden would lose to Trump,” Gluesenkamp Perez told KATU. “I know it’s difficult to accept, but the damage has been done.”

In the days following the debate, top Democratic leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, met with Biden to discuss his candidacy and its potential impact on down-ballot races and the party as a whole. Meanwhile, tensions between Biden and rank-and-file Democrats continued to simmer, fueled by a perceived lack of transparency and responsiveness from the campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

Since the debate, 19 Democrats have publicly called on Biden to withdraw as the party’s nominee, citing concerns over his mental and physical fitness for office. The president’s response has been to blame his poor performance on a cold and his busy travel schedule, which included trips to Europe for the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the Group of 7 leaders summit.

The Democratic National Convention, traditionally held to formally nominate the party’s candidate, is set to take place in Chicago in August, although this year’s event will feature a virtual roll call to accommodate Biden’s candidacy.