US elections 2024 Biden talks about reasons for withdrawing as presidential candidate
In an interview, incumbent Joe Biden spoke about the reasons for his withdrawal as the Democratic candidate for the presidential election. Biden said in the interview with US broadcaster CBS News that he wanted to do his best to protect democracy in the United States and prevent the re-election of Republican Donald Trump. "We must, must, must beat Trump," the 81-year-old emphasized.
12.08.2024, 07:51
13.08.2024, 14:23
SDA
Polls had predicted a neck-and-neck race between him and Trump, Biden said. However, senators and deputies from his party had expressed fears that his holding on to the presidential candidacy could also dampen their own chances of success. As a result, he was worried that the question of his remaining as a candidate would overshadow the election campaign. "I thought that would be a real distraction," he said. Biden also explained that he had already seen himself as the president of the transition to a younger generation during the 2020 election campaign.
Just over three weeks ago, Biden had announced his withdrawal as a candidate and declared his support for Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden was heavily criticized for a largely unsuccessful appearance in a TV duel with Trump (78) at the end of June. Even party colleagues suddenly began to more or less openly question whether he was still physically and mentally fit enough for another term in office. At first, however, Biden did not want to know and stonewalled. Just under a month after the TV duel, he finally announced his withdrawal.
For the Democrats, the unusual castling seems to have paid off just three months before the election at the beginning of November. Recent polls suggest that Harris and her newly elected running mate, Governor Tim Walz, have a slightly better chance of defeating Trump. But even with the breath of fresh air among the Democrats and the new enthusiasm among the party's supporters, one thing is clear: according to the polls, it is likely to remain a very close race.
