Biden steps down from US presidential race

US President Joe Biden has stepped down from the presidential election.

In a statement on Sunday, Biden said it is his intention to seek reelection as president, but his decision to quit the race is in the interest of the Democratic Party and the country.

Some Americans and top democrats had raised concerns over Biden’s health following his botched presidential debate with Donald Trump, Republican Party nominee.

“My Fellow Americans, Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation,” Biden said.

“Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans.

“We’ve provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world.

“America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today. I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

“We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.

“I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision. For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.

“I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can’t do – when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America.”

Calls for the 81-year-old president to withdraw from the race began to heighten after his feeble performance against Trump in the presidential debate on June 27.

Biden occasionally stammered, spoke incoherently, and delivered a slurred speech during the debate against Trump, his immediate predecessor, who is seeking a return to the White House.

Former US President Barack Obama had reportedly expressed doubts about Biden’s chances of retaining the White House ahead of the November polls.

Obama was said to have been deeply engaged in conversations about the future of Biden’s campaign.

On July 11, George Clooney, Hollywood actor and prominent Democratic fundraiser, implored Biden to drop out of the presidential race.

In an opinion piece titled ‘I love Joe Biden. But we need a new nominee’, Clooney said Biden has won many battles in the last four years but “the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time”.