Harris is ready to step up as Biden steps down
President Joe Biden took the remarkable decision on Sunday to stop his 2024 reelection campaign and swiftly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic Party's candidacy.
Biden's declaration comes amid rising worries about his age and fitness to serve following a lackluster debate performance against former President Donald Trump last month.
"It has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve as your President. And, while I had planned to run for reelection, I feel it is in the best interests of my party and the country for me to step down and focus completely on my obligations as President for the balance of my term," Biden wrote in a statement to the nation posted on X (previously Twitter).
Less than an hour later, he delivered a follow-up statement, announcing his support for Harris in the presidential campaign.
“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” Biden wrote on X. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump.”
A short time later, Biden shared a link and encouraged Democrats to donate to Harris' campaign.
In her own statement, Harris congratulated Biden for his service to the country.
“On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country. His remarkable legacy of accomplishment is unmatched in modern American history, surpassing the legacy of many Presidents who have served two terms in office,” Harris wrote.
The vice president also stated that she plans to "earn" the Democratic Party nomination.
“I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” she shared. “I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party — and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.”
Harris full statement below,
On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country. His remarkable legacy of accomplishment is unmatched in modern American history, surpassing the legacy of many Presidents who have served two terms in office.
It is a profound honor to serve as his Vice President, and I am deeply grateful to the President, Dr. Biden, and the entire Biden family. I first came to know President Biden through his son Beau. We were friends from our days working together as Attorneys General of our home states. As we worked together, Beau would tell me stories about his Dad. The kind of father—and the kind of man—he was. And the qualities Beau revered in his father are the same qualities, the same values, I have seen every single day in Joe’s leadership as President: His honesty and integrity. His big heart and commitment to his faith and his family. And his love of our country and the American people.
With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else.
I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination. Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.
We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win.