US president Joe Biden drops out of election race, endorses Kamala Harris

Donald's Trump's presidential campaign has suffered a blow as momentum builds for Kamala Harris to replace Joe Biden. 

Joe Biden has abandoned his bid for a second term as the US President as momentum builds for Kamala Harris to replace him.

The 81-year-old made the bombshell announcement in a letter he posted on social media while isolating with Covid at his home in Delaware.

He said he would “speak to the nation later this week in more detail about my decision” in the letter that declined to endorse a successor.

However, in a separate social media post moments later, Biden backed Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as the party’s candidate

“I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this,” he said.

In his letter, Biden said it had been “the greatest honour of my life to serve as your president”.

pic.twitter.com/RMIRvlSOYw

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024

My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024

“While it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of the term,” he said.

Harris praised Biden’s “extraordinary leadership” and his “selfless and patriotic act” to drop out of the race.

In a statement, she said: “I am honoured to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination … We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win.”

At least four Democrats often mentioned as top presidential contenders - California Governor Gavin Newsom, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg - have endorsed Harris.

It comes Harris has gained some ground, with her odds improving to 2/1, according to US betting outlets.

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Originally published as US president Joe Biden drops out of election race, endorses Kamala Harris

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