In a turn of events that rattled the political landscape and rippled through the waters of American governance, President Joe Biden stepped away from the path to the 2024 presidential election. It was a Sunday that would skulk into history books, as whispers from the Democratic echelon, voices such as former President Barack Obama, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Representative Adam Schiff, crystallized into a fervent chorus calling for change.
Picture the scene: a file photograph of President Joe Biden, arm-in-arm with Vice President Kamala Harris, captured in the midst of their stride outside the storied walls of the White House. It was amidst such backdrops where leadership decisions had been crafted in hushed tones and now, with a swan song rather than a battle cry, Biden declared on that memorable July 21st that he would not seek re-election, instead passing the torch to his vice president, his confidante, his chosen successor.
While convalescing from COVID-19 at his Delaware beachside retreat, Biden, at the venerable age of 81, decided to abdicate his crown. His debate performance against former President Donald Trump had not only been a debacle but sowed seeds of doubt in the fertile ground of public perception regarding his fitness – both mental and physical – for the highest office in the land.
Through a statement penned with the gravity of his position, Biden remarked, “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.”
Indeed, the foresight Biden demonstrated in 2020 when he selected Kamala Harris as his Vice President, an astute move he counted as his finest, was echoed in his unwavering endorsement her for the Democratic mantle. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” he declared, before summoning the party ranks with a battle-ready: “Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
The shockwaves of Biden’s retreat from the race jolted the vein of political wagering, sending Harris’ probability of shattering the glass ceiling and claiming the presidency soaring by 10% to an implied 36% chance of success. The trickle-down effect on Trump was less flattering; any assumed benefit from Biden’s absence diminishing as his odds dipped slightly to a still-dominant 62%.
Across the Atlantic, where the future of U.S politics can be gambled on, bookkeepers adjusted their tallies. Trump was pegged at -200, a constant; yet, Harris saw her fortunes bolster from +300 to the more favourable +200 in the wake of the news. Harris had lingered at +500 before the breadcrumb trail of Biden’s potential exit plan had even been fathomed.
Biden’s supporters, clad in Democratic blue, hailed his decision, with Schumer praising Biden as “a true patriot and great American.” Biden himself, reflecting on his term, regarded his presidency as the pinnacle of his life’s work and had fully intended to persevere. Yet, a selfless moment of clarity steered him elsewhere, “it is in the best interests of my party and the country for me to stand down.”
Polling stations had already cast their predictions, with both Trump and Harris trailing in the wake of negative approval ratings – a remarkable twist that certainly fuels the fire of political debate.
Never one to let an occasion pass without comment, Trump took to his Truth Social media platform, mincing no words in his appraisal of Biden’s tenure, vehemently criticising his presidency while stoking the fires of controversy regarding border control and national security.
Speculation over who would stand by Harris as vice presidential candidate sparked fresh fervor. California Governor Gavin Newsom, at +1400, took the lead, with former First Lady Michelle Obama and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer nipping at his heels, both at a steady +1600.
In this carefully choreographed dance of political intrigue, only time will unveil the next steps. But for now, the stage is set for a novel chapter in American politics, a narrative marked by withdrawal and the opportunity it has consequently bestowed.
