U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris announced on Sunday her intention to secure the Democratic nomination for the upcoming November presidential elections. This follows President Joe Biden’s declaration earlier in the day that he will not seek a second term, instead endorsing Harris for the candidacy.
“I fully support and endorse Kamala to be our party’s candidate this year,” Biden stated on social media platform X. Harris expressed her gratitude, calling Biden’s endorsement a “selfless and patriotic act.”
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also voiced their support for Harris. In a statement on X, they said, “We are honored to join the President in supporting Vice President Harris and will do everything we can to support her.”
Biden, now 81, faced increasing pressure within his party to withdraw from the race due to concerns over his health and sharpness. Over twenty Democratic lawmakers have urged Biden to step aside to allow for a stronger candidate to challenge Donald Trump in November.
Despite efforts to withstand the pressure and unfavorable poll predictions favoring Trump, Biden struggled to convince party leaders and major donors of his viability for re-election. His performance during the first presidential debate on June 27th, widely criticized, left him increasingly isolated within his own party.
