Joe Biden Opts out of Presidential Race

Joe Biden’s journey to the apex of American politics took almost half a century, marked by sorrow and ultimately crowned by success. However, his fall was unexpectedly swift. A few weeks after a disastrous debate triggered a significant revolt within his party, Joseph R. Biden Jr., the 46th President of the United States, yielded to mounting concerns among Democrats about his diminishing re-election prospects and withdrew from the contest against former President Donald Trump on July 21. This dramatic decision reshapes the 2024 race and sets the stage for a frantic lead-up to Election Day.

Joe Biden’s Message on Social Media

“It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your President,” Biden conveyed in a letter posted on social media shortly before 2 p.m. on a Sunday. “While I have intended to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.” Moments later, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination.

Since the debate with Trump on June 27, which heightened concerns about Biden’s cognitive abilities and his capacity to campaign and govern, numerous party officials have urged the 81-year-old President to step aside. Biden resisted these calls vehemently, determined to continue his campaign—until suddenly, he wasn’t.

This historic decision makes Biden the first sitting President in over half a century to cancel his re-election campaign, echoing Lyndon Johnson’s 1968 announcement amid Vietnam War disapproval. Biden’s exit paves the way for Harris or another younger Democratic leader to contend with the 78-year-old Trump, depending on the party’s decision on succession. Although Biden’s preference retains influence among party loyalists, there’s no certainty that a party willing to oust its leader will follow his lead.

Relinquishing the presidency must have been agonizing for Biden, who fought tirelessly for the power he now surrenders under adverse conditions. Pushing through adversity was central to his identity, and he viewed concerns about his age as just another challenge to overcome. Biden’s journey began with tragedy shortly after his election to the Senate in 1972 when his wife and daughter perished in a car crash. His first presidential run ended in 1987 due to a plagiarism scandal. These experiences shaped his disdain for both the press and his critics.

Americans had long harboured doubts about Biden’s age, with a summer poll revealing 77% of adults felt he was too old for a second term. The debate with Trump solidified these perceptions, as Biden struggled with names and figures and failed to counter Trump’s falsehoods or articulate his achievements. Many Democrats, frustrated but silent, watched as Biden’s re-election chances seemed increasingly tenuous.

As the disquiet grew, influential Democrats like Nancy Pelosi amplified the call for Biden to consider his candidacy’s impact on the party. A string of public appearances aimed at showcasing Biden’s vigour failed to quell the concerns. Polls indicated he was trailing in key battleground states, and donors began reconsidering their support. Even Joe Biden’s longtime ally, Nancy Pelosi, subtly encouraged him to make a decision, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

Biden’s diagnosis of COVID-19 during a campaign swing in Nevada added to his troubles. Confined to his beach house in Rehoboth, he grew increasingly frustrated with the lack of recognition for his accomplishments and the disrespect from allies. His confidants acknowledged that the road was coming to an end, and Biden began seriously contemplating his exit.

The shocking shooting of Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13 further complicated the political landscape. As Joe Biden received word of the attack while attending church, he swiftly mobilized his national security team and addressed the nation multiple times.

The incident, however, did not significantly alter the debate over Joe Biden’s age and capabilities.

With Joe Biden’s withdrawal, the Democratic race is reset. Trump’s campaign, initially focused on defeating Joe Biden, must now recalibrate. Democrats hope a new candidate can invigorate the base, though the question of who that will be remains open. Kamala Harris, endorsed by Biden, quickly announced her bid for the nomination, representing a straightforward but politically sensitive choice for a party that depends heavily on diverse constituencies.

In these uncharted waters, Democrats are strategizing for a truncated nominating contest culminating in their convention in Chicago. The departure of Biden marks a pivotal moment in American politics, heralding a new phase in the race for the White House.

Who is Kamala Harris?

Kamala Harris has made history by becoming the first woman and the first woman of colour to serve as vice president of the United States. Her groundbreaking career includes notable roles as a former California attorney general and U.S. senator. Here are some highlights of Vice President Kamala Harris’s personal and political journey, as well as her positions on key issues.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Kamala Harris has made history as the first woman and the first woman of colour to serve as vice president of the United States.
• Kamala Harris was raised by a Jamaican father and an Indian-born mother.
• She served as both district attorney for San Francisco and attorney general for the state of California.
• Harris’s record as a prosecutor is considered centrist, but she’s been seen as largely liberal as a senator.
• Vice President Harris hails from the moderate wing of the Democratic Party. While her Senate record leans further left than Biden’s, her positions before her Senate career reflected a more moderate stance on certain issues.

Early Life and Education

Kamala Devi Harris was born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, to immigrant parents. Her mother, Shyamala, emigrated from India and became a renowned breast cancer researcher, receiving her doctorate the same year Kamala was born. Her father, Donald, came to the U.S. from Jamaica and was an economics professor at Stanford University.

Harris’s parents were involved in the civil rights movement and emphasized the importance of uniting people to champion the rights and freedoms of all individuals. At a young age, she participated in civil rights marches, even attending as a toddler.

Her parents divorced when she was seven, and she moved to Montreal at age 12 with her mother and sister, Maya. In Montreal, Kamala and her sister organized a successful protest against the owner of their apartment building who wouldn’t let children play on the building’s lawn.

As a student at Westmount High School in Quebec, Harris dreamed of becoming a lawyer. After graduation, she returned to the U.S. and attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she earned a B.A. in political science and economics. She then went back to California and attended the University of California Hastings College of the Law, earning her J.D. in 1989.

Notable Accomplishments

Harris has many notable accomplishments to her name. She began her legal career as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County, California, focusing on sex crimes. She then became managing attorney of the Career Criminal Unit in San Francisco and later chief of the San Francisco Community and Neighborhood Division of the DA’s office in 2000, where she established the state’s first Bureau of Children’s Justice.

As the district attorney of San Francisco in 2004, Kamala Harris presided over the first same-sex wedding following the overturning of Proposition 8. She also created an environmental justice unit and launched “Back on Track,” a program aimed at providing educational and employment opportunities to first-time drug offenders.

In 2010, Kamala Harris was elected as the attorney general of California. In this role, she achieved an $18 billion settlement for homeowners facing foreclosure and secured a $1.1 billion settlement for students and veterans deceived by a for-profit education company.

In 2021, Kamala Harris made history by taking the oath of office as vice president. She marked a series of “firsts” as the first woman, a woman of colour, and a South Asian American to assume this role. As part of her responsibilities, Harris has engaged in numerous international visits, travelling to more than 19 countries and holding discussions with over 150 world leaders to enhance global partnerships and alliances.

In 2022, Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, a significant legislative achievement in which Vice President Harris played a pivotal role. It aims to cut expenses for families, address the climate crisis, reduce the budget deficit, and ensure that major corporations pay their share of taxes. One key aspect of this act, influenced by Vice President Harris’s advocacy, is the empowerment of Medicare to negotiate prices for certain high-cost medications. It limits the monthly cost of insulin for seniors to $35, eliminates out-of-pocket expenses for recommended adult vaccines under Medicare, and sets a yearly cap of $2,000 for seniors’ pharmacy-related expenditures.

San Francisco Attorney General

Harris defeated her former boss, Terence Hallinan, in an election to become San Francisco district attorney in 2003. She was the first Black woman to hold the office. The conviction rate in San Francisco jumped from 52% to 67% during her first three years. She launched the “Back on Track” initiative that cut recidivism through job training and other programs for low-level offenders.

Harris went from a police favourite to being shunned by police unions during her tenure as San Francisco DA due to a reputation for only prosecuting the most airtight of cases and for her handling of a case against a cop killer in 2004. Harris had an often-stated personal opposition to the death penalty and had made a campaign promise to never seek it. This stance turned many on the blue line against her when she refused to request the death penalty for a gang member convicted of killing police officer Isaac Espinoza.

Attorney General of California

Harris became the first woman and the first Black and South Asian American attorney general of California in November 2010, narrowly beating Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley in the race. She made an immediate mark by withdrawing from settlement negotiations with five of the country’s largest financial institutions for improper mortgage practices, eventually settling for five times the original proposed amount.

Harris created Open Justice as attorney general, an online platform that makes criminal justice data available to the public. The database has helped improve police accountability by tabulating the number of deaths and injuries of those in police custody. She also presided over the creation of “Operation Boo,” a mandatory curfew for all homeless sex offenders on Halloween.

U.S. Senator for California

Harris became the first South Asian American to enter the U.S. Senate when she defeated Loretta Sanchez in 2016. Her pointed questioning of high-profile witnesses like then U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh drew high praise from the left. Harris supported a single-payer healthcare system in the Senate and introduced legislation to provide financial relief to those facing rising housing costs.

Harris joined bipartisan bills less often than all other Senate Democrats, according to GovTrack. Of the 696 bills she co-sponsored, only 14% were introduced by Republicans. However, she received bicameral support on more bills than any other member of her Senate class and had the most co-sponsors on her bills of anyone in her class.

Harris introduced one bill while serving as a senator that became law in 2019: S. 129 (116th): Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial Act. It provides for the establishment of a national monument to commemorate those killed by the collapse of the Saint Francis Dam on March 12, 1928. Three other bills that she’s sponsored have been enacted via other legislation:

• S. 3055 (115th): Disaster Victims Passport and ID Relief Act of 2018
• S. 3033 (115th): COUNT Victims Act
• S. 729 (115th): John Muir National Historic Site Expansion Act

The Presidential Campaign

Following Joe Biden’s announcement that he was leaving the race for President in 2024, Harris announced her intention to run. On X, she said, “I am honoured to have the President’s endorsement and I intend to earn and win this nomination.” It is unclear if she will formally become the official Democratic candidate in 2024.

Harris first announced her candidacy for president in January 2019. One high point of her campaign came during the first Democratic debate when Harris confronted Joe Biden over his opposition to cross-district busing in the 1970s. She delivered a stirring anecdote about the opportunity that busing afforded one child, ending with the dramatic line, “And that little girl was me.” The clip became an immediate viral sensation, and so did her candidacy.

However, the resulting surge in poll numbers didn’t last. Harris shut down her campaign in December 2019 and endorsed Joe Biden in March 2020. He announced Harris as his running mate in August 2020, saying, “Back when Kamala was attorney general, she worked closely with (my son) Beau. I watched as they took on the big banks, lifted working people, and protected women and kids from abuse. I was proud then, and I’m proud now to have her as my partner in this campaign.”

Biden was inaugurated as the 46th President of the U.S. on January 20, 2021, making Harris the first female, the first Black person, and the first Asian American to hold the position of vice president.

Philosophies and Publications

Published Works

Harris has published three books. Her first was “Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor’s Plan to Make Us Safer” in 2009. It explores her philosophy and ideas for criminal justice reform, focusing on issues such as government corruption and justice for sexual abuse victims. The book portrays Harris as a prosecutor with a tough but empathetic approach, emphasizing support for victims and measures to prevent crimes. It’s also viewed by some as pro-law enforcement, aligned with an era focused on crime prevention rather than racial bias and police presence.

Two other books appeared in early 2019. “The Truths We Hold: An American Journey” is a memoir that reflects on her relationships and upbringing. “Superheroes Are Everywhere” is a picture book autobiography for children.

Harris bluntly told Guatemalans “Do not come” during a June 2021 trip to Central America, a remark that drew criticism although it reflected the realities of a Trump administration rule allowing border agents to rapidly turn

Joe Biden’s journey to the apex of American politics took almost half a century, marked by sorrow and ultimately crowned by success. However, his fall was unexpectedly swift. A few weeks after a disastrous debate triggered a significant revolt within his party, Joseph R. Biden Jr., the 46th President of the United States, yielded to mounting concerns among Democrats about his diminishing re-election prospects and withdrew from the contest against former President Donald Trump on July 21. In 2010, Harris became the first woman and person of colour to be elected Californdramatic decision reshaped the 2024 race and set the stage for a frantic lead-up to the Election

Kamala Harris is an American politician and attorney. She currently serves as the 49th Vice President of the United States, having taken office in January 2021 under President Joe Biden. Here are some key points about her:

• Background: Born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, Kamala Harris is a member of the Democratic Party.
• Historic Firsts:
  • She is the first female vice president in U.S. history.
  • She is also the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history.
  • Harris holds the distinction of being the first African American and first South Asian American vice president.
• Previous Roles:
  • U.S. Senator: Harris represented California in the U.S. Senate from 2017 to 2021.
  • Attorney General of California: She served in this role from 2011 to 2017.
  • District Attorney of San Francisco: Harris held this position from 2004 to 2011.
• Achievements:
  • During her tenure as attorney general, she worked on legislation related to criminal justice reform, including the Justice for Victims of Lynching Act and the MORE Act.
  • As vice president, she has been involved in initiatives such as the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
• Personal Life:
  • Harris is married to Doug Emhoff.
  • She has a background in law, having studied at Howard University (BA) and the University of California, Hastings (JD).

For more details, you can explore her official White House page.¹²

Who is Kamala Harris

Kamala Devi Harris is an American politician and attorney who has been serving as the 49th vice president of the United States since 2021, under President Joe Biden. She is the first female vice president, the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history, and the first African American and first Asian American vice president. Before her vice presidency, Harris served as a U.S. senator from California from 2017 to 2021, and as the Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017. Her career has been marked by her advocacy for civil rights, criminal justice reform, and healthcare.

 Sources

• whitehouse.gov – Kamala Harris: The Vice President
• britannica.com – Kamala Harris | Biography, Policies, Family, & Facts
• wikipedia.org – Kamala Harris
• simple.wikipedia.org – Kamala Harris
• politico.com – 55 Things You Need to Know About Kamala Harris
• investopedia.com – Who Is Kamala Harris?

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