US Election: Joe Biden Withdraws From Presidential Race
US President Joe Biden has heeded calls to withdraw his re-election bid, thrusting this year’s already high-wire race for the White House into an uncertain territory.
The announcement on Sunday by the oldest sitting president in the United States’ history came amid mounting pressure from his fellow Democrats, with more than 30 Congress members publicly pushing for his exit.
Other high-profile figures — including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — were reported to be encouraging Biden to step down behind the scenes.
The backlash came after Biden, 81, delivered an unsteady performance at the first presidential debate of the 2024 election season as he lost his train of thought and struggled to articulate basic talking points.
The 46th US president’s departure from the race leaves the Democratic Party in an unprecedented situation, with only a month until the Democratic National Convention and less than four months until the November 5 election.
Whoever replaces Biden will face Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump.
More to follow.
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA, NEWS AGENCIES
