Biden Abandons His Reelection Bid
Joe Biden's decision to abandon his reelection bid concludes an eventful period of less than one month that historians will chronicle in every future history book about the United States. It's a Shakespearean drama that began with Biden's insistence on an early debate to demonstrate that his age should not be a factor in assessing his capability to lead for another four years.
But time, inevitably, caught up with him. The debate was difficult to watch, and I, like many others, soon turned off my screen. The sad reality emerged that the man who defeated Trump and has an excellent track record on tackling America's diverse domestic challenges will not have the chance to do so again.
As the clock started ticking, many believed changing a candidate this late in the presidential race seemed impossible, while others argued that every day the inevitable was postponed would worsen the situation. The Democratic Convention was scheduled for August 19, leaving little room for error. Biden attempted a series of counteroffensives, but most of these failed.
For weeks, the world followed daily reports of Biden's refusal to acknowledge the obvious: his age-related failings had become too pronounced for the highest office in a global superpower. In a virtual meeting with state governors, the governor of Hawaii, a medical doctor, inquired about Biden's health. Biden's reply, "It's just my brain," was both poignant and alarming.
During these weeks, Biden became increasingly isolated. He lost political and donor support and stubbornly refused to step down, claiming that only the "Lord Almighty" could convince him otherwise. He grew angrier and more frustrated as the days went by.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, leading to a temporary suspension of his campaign events. Trump and his supporters seemed energized when he accepted the Republican nomination for another four years in the White House. His one brief attempt to present himself as a unifying figure quickly dissipated as he reverted to his usual incendiary language later in the same speech.
Days later, Biden, isolated at his home in Delaware due to a COVID-19 infection, finally realized that withdrawal was the best option. His decision marks a significant turning point in this election cycle.
The history books will not conclude their chapters on the rise of the American version of fascism on July 21. This story unfolds in the next 100 days in unpredictable ways that may structurally harm America's democracy. The assassination of Bobby Kennedy in 1968 led to a chaotic Democratic Convention in Chicago, and the turmoil within the Democratic Party contributed to the perception of instability and ultimately to Richard Nixon's presidency. This time, the assassination attempt targeted the Republican candidate and failed, but the Democratic candidate's late withdrawal could lead to similar chaos. Still, I believe that in these circumstances, Biden's choice, however painful, was the best one he could make. It fits with his legacy as a president who always put the interests of the American people first.
Will chaos return? Will Democrats quickly unite around an alternative candidate? Will that candidate be Kamala Harris? The story is still developing. The breaking news in the New York Times was just 48 minutes ago.
What are your thoughts?
I’m sad for President Biden but also very proud of him for putting his country ahead of his personal wishes to finish the job he began as President. Imagine the Republican candidate having that much character. President Biden restored dignity and leadership to the office of the presidency and kept faith with Americans. His accomplishments are genuinely amazing considering the mess he was handed by Trump and the ongoing drama of a criminal who attacked his own country and stole security documents among a laundry list of other crimes.
The next months will be dramatic as well as the new candidate must rise to the challenges ahead.
Democracy is on the ballot for America and the world. May we be successful as a country in meeting those challenges at the ballot boxes.
Sitting in the U.S., upon hearing this news, I found myself just breathing, exhaling. I feel sad for my President who made the painful decision to step down and endorse his Vice President. After all, this is the elder statesman who saved our Democracy from Trump the second time. I am grateful.
After hearing the ugliness from the RNC & direct threats to our constitution, I am proud of the President and Democratic Party for making what I feel is the right decision to prevail. The hopes of the free world now rest upon her shoulders. The future of the immigrant, the disenfranchised and marginalized now rest on this country's ability to get it right; we are all of the above.
What history books, scholars or pundits make of this historic time, is beyond my control. I hope they do it justice. I wish all of us courage on the road ahead. We are so close to losing everything we hold dear.
Thank you for being a worldwide beacon for Democracy, Alex. Your understanding of these tenets that hold us together is immense. I so hope we can shore up this beautiful experiment we call America. "We come on the ship they call the Mayflower. We come on the ship that sailed the moon. We come in the ages most uncertain hours and sing an American tune."