American president Joe Biden on Sunday evening announced that he would not seek reelection as President of the United States.
Biden in a letter addressed to the American people, said that it had been the greatest honour of his life to serve as President.
However, Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race comes days after he tested positive for COVID-19, which was the first known time he had contracted the coronavirus.
While Biden’s decision to stand down is surprising, it was not unprecedented. Here are some of the reasons that pushed the Democrats and especially Biden towards this decision.
1. Immense pressure: Biden’s decision to step down comes after intense pressure from Democratic leaders following the June 27 debate, in which the 81-year-old President trailed off, often gave nonsensical answers and failed to call out the former President’s many falsehoods.
2. Health concerns: Joe Biden’s poor health is another major reason he pulled out of the presidential race. The 81-year-old tested positive for COVID-19, experienced mild symptoms and was isolated at the White House to recover.
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, 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.
3. Age Factor: Age was a significant factor in Biden’s decision to step down as he’s one of the oldest candidates in American history to contest for office. Concerns about his age and effectiveness as the President were raised from the day he announced his reelection bid.
4. Presidential Debate fiasco: In the recent presidential debate against US Republican Presidential candidate, Donald Trump, Biden witnessed humiliation as he performed underwhelmingly.
He fumbled while advocating his administration’s steps and policy initiatives which gave Trump an advantage as he turned the debate in his favour by jibing him. On why voters should “trust” him to resolve the crisis at the border, Biden pointed to the bipartisan border security deal and then misspoke before concluding. He said, “I’m going to continue to move until we get to total ban — on the total initiative relative to what we’re going to do with more border patrol and asylum officers.” Reacting to the statement, Trump said, “I don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said either.”