President Biden Cedes to Pressure from Democrats, Ends Campaign
President Joe Biden recently shed light on his unexpected withdrawal from the presidential race during a Sunday CBS News interview. The sitting president candidly attributed his decision to pressure from his Democratic colleagues who feared his campaign could potentially jeopardize the party’s prospects down-ballot.
Biden’s Democratic Colleagues Speak Out
The President recalled that numerous Democratic colleagues from both the House and Senate expressed worries about the potential negative impact of his campaign on their own races. Their concerns stemmed from the polarizing nature of his campaign and the broader discourse surrounding it.
“So many of my Democratic colleagues believed that my campaign could negatively affect their chances in the races. And frankly, I was concerned myself. If I stayed in the race, the narrative would be about why Nancy Pelosi, for instance, expressed such concern. It would have been a significant distraction,” Biden shared during his interview with CBS News’ Bob Costa.
Biden Drops Out, Endorses Vice President Harris
President Biden’s exit from the presidential race was officially announced late July, after which Biden promptly endorsed Vice President Harris. Prominent Democrats such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer allegedly privately urged Biden to drop out in the weeks following his inaugural debate with Donald Trump.
In spite of this, Biden maintained during his interview with CBS, “Our polls showed it would have been a nail-biting race, right down to the wire.”
Despite the decisiveness of Biden’s withdrawal, Pelosi let slip during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that his withdrawal might not be so definitive.
Pelosi Throws Curveball in MSNBC Interview
“It’s up to the President whether he wants to run or not. We’re all encouraging him to make a decision quickly because time is running out,” Pelosi declared when questioned about her support for his bid for re-election.
Pelosi further fanned the flames by conceding during the “Morning Joe” interview that her statement may have reignited the debate over whether Biden should have been replaced on the ticket.
“He may think that my statement stirred up something—I don’t know, as we haven’t spoken since then,” revealed Pelosi to reporters recently.
Reflections of a ‘Transition President’
During his interview with Costa, Biden also ruminated on his original vision for his role as president.
“When I ran the first time, I saw myself as a transition president. I can hardly even express my age. Things moved so quickly, though, and it didn’t pan out. But I still believe maintaining our democracy is critical, and it’s no joke,” said Biden.
As things stand, the Democratic Party is regrouping and channeling its energy and resources behind Vice President Harris, who is expected to lead the ticket.
