INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
US President Joe Biden is expected to make a major announcement on his re-election bid
(Photo: Reuters)3 min read Last Updated : Jul 19 2024 | 8:09 AM IST
US President Joe Biden is expected to make a major announcement on
his re-election bid, with several senior Democratic leaders suggesting that he leave the race following his disastrous debate performance, a
failed assassination attempt on his rival Donald Trump, his poor health, and falling poll numbers, according to media reports.
Several
people close to President Biden said on Thursday that they believe he has begun to accept the idea that he may not be able to win in
November and may have to drop out of the race, bowing to the growing demands of many anxious members of his party, The New York Times
reported.
Biden, 81, is spending time at his Delaware residence in isolation after he was tested positive for Covid-19
Media reports said that top leaders of the Democratic party, including former president Barack Obama, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have asked him to leave the presidential race, in the absence of which the party risks losing the
White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives.
People close to top Democrats said Thursday that it now appeared it was a matter
of when not if Biden bows out of the presidential race
In the past day or so, former President Barack Obama has told friends who have called him that Biden's path to victory is narrow, according
behind-the-scenes role in working to persuade the president to bow out of campaign
Obama has said that he has a very slight chance of winning the race.
According to The Hill, Vice President Kamala Harris has started
looking for options for her running mate
The three being talked about right now are Senator Mark Kelly, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.
Most
of the media reports said that Biden's announcement on his re-election bid might come after the conclusion of the Republican National
Convention in Milwaukee.
One of the people close to him warned that the president had not yet made up his mind to leave the race after
three weeks of insisting that almost nothing would drive him out
But another said that 'reality is setting in', and that it would not be a surprise if Mr Biden made an announcement soon endorsing Vice
President Kamala Harris as his replacement, The NYT reported.First Published: Jul 19 2024 | 7:54 AMIST
