Biden Bows to Pressure, Drops Out of 2024 Race Amidst Doubts and Debate Debacle

Former President Obama's allies and advisers played a significant role in calling on Biden to end his re-election bid after his disastrous debate performance against Trump sparked concerns about his mental acuity and age.

President Biden has officially withdrawn from the 2024 race after facing mounting pressure from his own party members, including former President Obama's allies and former advisers. The decision follows Biden's disastrous debate performance against former President Trump last month, which drew attention to his age and mental sharpness.

Among the most outspoken voices calling on Biden to drop out were former Obama adviser David Axelrod, who stated that Biden is "not winning this race." Axelrod cited Biden's age and its impact on his cognitive abilities, saying, "He's not winning this race... Those were painfully obvious on that debate stage. The president just … hasn’t come to grips with it."

Biden Bows to Pressure, Drops Out of 2024 Race Amidst Doubts and Debate Debacle

Actor George Clooney, who has a close friendship with Obama, also urged Biden to withdraw in a bombshell op-ed published just weeks after co-hosting Biden with Obama for a campaign event in Los Angeles. Clooney wrote, "It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fundraiser was not the Joe ‘big F-ing deal’ Biden of 2010... He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate."

Jon Favreau, another former Obama ally, joined the chorus of voices calling for Biden's withdrawal. Favreau, who attended the fundraiser with Clooney and Obama, said, "I remember my wife, Emily, turned to me after the fundraiser and said, ‘What are we going to do?’ And I said, ‘Well, there is a debate in a week. Either he’ll do well in the debate, and we'll think he was just tired because he flew all the way back from Europe, and that'll be that, or he'll be like this at the debate and then the whole country will be talking about it. So, here we are."

Biden Bows to Pressure, Drops Out of 2024 Race Amidst Doubts and Debate Debacle

Former Obama advisers Jon Lovett and Tommy Vietor also criticized Biden's performance, saying that it was "hard to watch" and that "we'd have a better chance with someone else."

Obama himself has remained relatively silent throughout the process, offering a defense of Biden after his debate performance but not responding publicly to reports that he was working behind the scenes to facilitate Biden's exit. However, Politico reported that Obama was consulted by Clooney before the publication of his op-ed and did not object to it.

Biden Bows to Pressure, Drops Out of 2024 Race Amidst Doubts and Debate Debacle

In a statement following Biden's announcement, Obama commended Biden's work as President while remaining neutral on the issue of his successor. Obama expressed confidence that the Democratic Party would produce a "outstanding nominee" and praised Biden's vision for America.

The pressure on Biden to withdraw came not only from former Obama allies but also from within the Democratic establishment. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi reportedly worked in the background to encourage Biden's exit due to concerns about his ability to defeat Trump. Pelosi stated that the decision was ultimately Biden's but noted that "time is running short."

Biden Bows to Pressure, Drops Out of 2024 Race Amidst Doubts and Debate Debacle

Republicans have seized on Biden's withdrawal, demanding his resignation if he is unfit to run for re-election. House Speaker Mike Johnson said, "If Joe Biden is not fit to run for President, he is not fit to serve as President. He must resign the office immediately." Former President Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, also called for Biden's resignation, saying, "If Joe Biden ends his reelection campaign, how can he justify remaining President? Not running for reelection would be a clear admission that President Trump was right all along about Biden not being mentally fit enough to serve as Commander-in-Chief."

The withdrawal of Biden opens up the race for the Democratic nomination, with Vice President Kamala Harris emerging as the frontrunner. However, uncertainty remains as to who will ultimately take up the mantle of the Democratic Party in the 2024 election.

Biden Bows to Pressure, Drops Out of 2024 Race Amidst Doubts and Debate Debacle