USA After Biden resignation: Harris wants to run against Trump

Following the dramatic withdrawal of US President Joe Biden as the leading candidate, the US Democrats are hoping for a turnaround in the election campaign against Republican Donald Trump.

Current Vice President Kamala Harris, who is supported by Biden and numerous other party greats, is seen as the most promising replacement candidate ahead of the vote in November.

"I am honored to have the President's support, and I intend to earn and win this nomination," said the former California Attorney General and ex-Senator. The 59-year-old Harris is the first black woman to take the oath as US Vice President and is considered quick-witted and combative. She is 19 years younger than Trump, but did not always cut a good figure alongside Biden in the public eye.

Tearing up after a disastrous debate

The 81-year-old Biden, who was celebrated by his party colleagues as a selfless hero and great US president, pulled the ripcord with his withdrawal after a disastrous debate against Trump at the end of June. In recent days, under enormous pressure from the Democratic Party establishment, it became increasingly clear that Biden would not recover from the consequences of the appearance.

Biden had recently come under massive pressure not only within his own party due to his mental state, but his approval ratings also continued to fall. Donors withdrew. "Although it was my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interests of my party and the country for me to retire and focus exclusively on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term," Biden said in a letter to the American people. According to US media, millions in donations came in again after Biden's decision.

The withdrawal just three and a half months before the US election marks a spectacular turnaround in an election campaign in which former President Donald Trump thought he had a good chance against Biden after the failed assassination attempt a week ago. Trump was well ahead of the incumbent in almost all polls. However, experts blamed Biden's weakness rather than Trump's strength for this.

Demonstrative unity for Harris

The replacement of the designated lead candidate just a few months before the US election and only weeks before important deadlines in some states is a delicate maneuver for the Democrats. After Biden pledged his full support to his running mate, a number of other party greats quickly came out in her favor - including, in particular, Governors Gavin Newsom (California), Josh Shapiro (Pennsylvania) and Roy Cooper (North Carolina), who had also been touted as possible candidates.

From the left wing of the party, Harris received support from MP Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The Vice President also has no need to fear competition from the influential Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, following her withdrawal. Former President Barack Obama, on the other hand, spoke only of his confidence that "an outstanding candidate" would be found.

A few hours after Biden's withdrawal, the chances of Harris having a serious intra-party rival initially seemed slim. According to reports in some US media, Senator Joe Manchin, known as an obstructionist, is considering running. He is unlikely to stand a chance. The Democratic nomination convention will take place in Chicago in mid-August. A narrative for the duel between the former public prosecutor and the recently convicted felon Trump is likely to be obvious for the Democrats.

Trump fumes and speaks of "fraud"

Donald Trump seemed furious after Biden's withdrawal. His team had invested time and money in "the fight against the fraudulent Joe Biden". "Now we have to start all over again," Trump scolded on Truth Social, the internet platform he co-founded. The 78-year-old called for the Republicans to be compensated for this "fraud" against his party.

The 78-year-old was officially chosen as his party's candidate at the Republican Party convention in Milwaukee last week. Senator J.D. Vance is entering the race as the Republican vice-candidate. Following the assassination attempt on his life, the party convention staged Trump as a politician who had been changed by the shooting and who now wanted to unite the deeply divided country.

In his own nomination speech, however, Trump fell back into old patterns, accusing the Democrats of electoral fraud and insulting his political opponents. Trump and the Republicans had hoped to have an easy game against Biden in the election in November - especially as Trump has achieved almost legendary status among his own fans after surviving the attack.

The crisis of recent weeks

Since Biden's disastrous performance in a televised duel against Trump, criticism of his age, which had long been a problem for voters, had boiled over. During the exchange of blows, the most powerful man in the world regularly floundered. He lost his train of thought, stared open-mouthed into space and was often unable to finish his sentences properly.

Biden himself initially tried to talk his way out of it. He explained his weak performance with fatigue as a result of strenuous trips abroad. At various appearances, he defiantly assured the audience that he would not withdraw. But further slip-ups followed. In the end, the pressure from within his own ranks became too great.

In recent days, Biden had withdrawn to his private home in Rehoboth, Delaware, after contracting coronavirus and did not make any public appointments. During his forced break, he decided to bow to pressure from his party colleagues.

Respect for Biden

Leading Democrats and heads of state and government from around the world paid tribute to Biden for this significant step. The leading Democrat in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, praised Biden as a great president and a remarkable person. "His decision was certainly not easy, but he has once again put his country, his party and our future first," Schumer wrote in a statement. Today shows that Biden is "a true patriot and a great American". First Lady Jill Biden (73) commented on her husband's withdrawal with two hearts on Platform X.

An election year like no other

Even before this greatest possible complication, this US election year was one that stood out on all levels, especially with regard to the Republican candidate. With Trump, a convicted felon is running for the highest office in the land. He was the first ex-president of the USA to be found guilty in criminal proceedings - for concealing a hush money payment to a porn actress. So far, this has not damaged the 78-year-old's election campaign. There are other criminal proceedings against him - however, these cases are unlikely to go to trial before election day.

There was an escalation in the election campaign just over a week ago when a gunman opened fire at a Trump event in Pennsylvania. Trump was injured in the ear in the attack, one spectator was killed and two others were wounded.

The recent 2020 US election year had already been chaotic. Trump did not accept his election defeat against Biden at the time, but instead used drastic means to try to reverse the election result. His campaign culminated in a violent attack by his supporters on the US Capitol, in which several people were killed.