Biden withdraws, the American presidential election in the unknown

Thunderbolt on the White House: Joe Biden announced Sunday renounce à to run for a second term, his vice-president Kamala Harris saying she was ready to do so. replace him to "beat Trump" in a Democratic campaign now plunged into the unknown.

After weeks of uncertainty, weakened by doubts about his mental acuity, the 81-year-old American president announced throwing in the towel very late in the campaign, one month before the convention which should have induct him as a candidate.

“I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to step down and focus solely on serving as president until the end of my term,” Mr. Biden in a statement.

“Today I want to give my full support and endorsement to Kamala to be our party's nominee this year,” he said. he added on X from his seaside villa where he was confined after contracting Covid.

© AFP – Jim WATSON

This shock announcement, expected despite the repeated denials of the main person concerned, upsets a campaign which has already experienced many twists and turns, first and foremost the assassination attempt on Donald Trump on July 13.< /p>

Kamala Harris, the first African-American to become vice-president, immediately declared herself ready to “win the Democratic nomination” with a view to “beating Donald Trump”.

Aged 59, she will display a youthful image facing Donald Trump, 78, who emerged this week strengthened from the inauguration convention which saw the Republican Party get in line behind his candidacy.

US President Joe Biden (L) and Vice President Kamala Harris (R) at the White House in Washington, USA, July 4, 2024 © AFP – Mandel NGAN

“Joe the crook was not fit to be a candidate and he is certainly not fit to carry out his duties”, reacted the billionaire on his social network.

Kamala Harris will be “even worse” than Joe Biden, also quickly tackled the Republican's campaign team.

Joe Biden, for his part, announced that he would would address the nation “later this week”.

– Support from Clinton, caution from Obama –

Echoing the major figures of his party, the Republican leader of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson called on the Democratic president to “resign immediately”.

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US President Joe Biden aboard Air Force One in Madison, Wisconsin, United States, July 5, 2024 © AFP – SAUL LOEB

On the Democratic side, where pressure on the president has continued to mount in recent weeks, praise continues to pour in, like the influential leader of the Democrats in the Senate Chuck Schumer who greeted a ” great patriot”.

Another Democratic tenor, Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the American House of Representatives, also praised “one of the most important presidents of the 'American history'.

During the Democratic Party convention in mid-August in Chicago, the choice of Kamala Harris seems very possible today but will not be automatic.

She already received another strong endorsement, former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State, having announced their support for Kamala Harris on Sunday.

But former President Barack Obama, one of the most influential Democratic figures, was content to express his “confidence” in his party to establish “a process which will allow the emergence of an exceptional candidate”, without mentioning Kamala Harris.

While believing that Joe Biden was “convinced that this was the right (decision) for America”, Barack Obama warned the Democrats who will “navigate uncharted territory in the days to come”.

The last word goes to the delegates of the Democratic Party, 3,900 people with very varied profiles and for the most part completely unknown to the general public. The selection process will be “transparent and disciplined”, promised in a press release the leader of the Democratic Party Jaime Harrison.

– Doubts blown into broad daylight –

It was Joe Biden's disastrous performance during his June 27 debate with Donald Trump that precipitated events. That day, it was a very weakened president who appeared in front of the screens of his dismayed supporters.

With a cat in his throat forcing him to cough often , he got confused more than once, sometimes not being able to finish his sentences.

Joe Biden boards Air Force One on June 20, 2024 in Delaware © AFP – SAMUEL CORUM

A painful spectacle which brought to light the doubts about his age, over which those close to him had tried to keep a lid.

Who was going to be the first to draw his weapon to ask him to stop there? Relatively little-known Democratic elected officials began to reach party heavyweights.

L 'one after another, fearing a landslide victory for Donald Trump, abandoned him, mostly at first in private.

American media, citing reports anonymous sources, thus affirmed that Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi or even Chuck Schumer had expressed their concern.

And the images of Joe Biden recently tested positive for Covid-19, struggling to get down the gangway of his plane, only amplified the nervousness of his camp.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump, who miraculously escaped being shot during a campaign rally, seemed to be living in a state of grace, with legal victories and consecration at the Republican Party convention.

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