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• The president made the announcement and asked the electorate to consider his vice president, Kamala Harris, for the upcoming presidential elections | Photo: EFE

The decision announced on Sunday, July 21, by the President of the United States, Joe Biden, not to run for re-election after an unfavorable debate with Donald Trump, which raised doubts about his ability to serve just four months before the elections, is due to several factors.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to be your president. And while my intention has been to seek re-election, I believe it is best for my party and for the country that I step down and concentrate solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term,” said the 81-year-old president.

Asimism, Biden asked This Sunday, the vote for Vice President Kamala Harris as her replacement for the elections on November 5, through a message on the social network X.

The keys to his decision

1.- Performance in the debate: Biden had a disastrous debate with Donald Trump on June 27, in which he remained silent, gave nonsensical answers and failed to adequately respond to Trump’s falsehoods. This fueled concerns about his suitability for office due to his age.

2.- Pressure from Democratic allies: Mounting pressure from his allies within the Democratic Party to step aside after the debate was a driving factor. Democrats were concerned about Biden’s re-election chances.

3.- Health problems: Biden was diagnosed with Covid-19 last week and was in isolation at his beach house in Delaware, which may have influenced his ability to campaign effectively and his ultimate decision.

4.- Focus on presidential performance: Biden decided it was best for his party and the country to step down and focus on fulfilling his presidential duties for the remainder of his term, demonstrating a commitment to government stability and effectiveness.

5.- Support for Kamala Harris: Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, suggesting a strategy to unify the party behind a strong candidate prepared to take on Trump.

6.- History and precedents: Biden’s withdrawal is a historic move, similar to Lyndon Johnson’s announcement in 1968 that he would not seek another term due to pressure and adverse circumstances, which contextualizes the magnitude and seriousness of his decision.

7.- Notification to staff: The decision was made with great care and after several days of reflection. Campaign and White House staff were notified minutes before the public announcement, indicating strategic planning and careful communication.

8.- Impact on the campaign: Biden’s announcement comes at a critical moment for the presidential campaign, considered one of the most important elections in generations, and on the heels of an assassination attempt on Trump, adding a dimension of urgency and gravity to his decision.

9-. Reactions of the electorate: Concerns about Biden’s ability to perform effectively in a second term could have negatively affected his support among voters, which would have diminished the chances of a successful re-election. Evaluating public opinion and the potential impact on polls may have been a crucial factor in his decision.

10.- Unification of the party: The need to unify the Democratic Party to face Donald Trump in a highly polarized election. By withdrawing and endorsing Kamala Harris, Biden sought to ensure an orderly transition and strengthen cohesion within the party, avoiding internal divisions that could weaken the Democratic campaign.

The eighth US president who does not seek re-election despite being eligible

Eight U.S. presidents, including Biden, have not sought re-election despite being eligible: Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969), Harry S. Truman (1945–1953), Calvin Coolidge (1923–1929), Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909), James Polk (1845–1849), James Buchanan (1857–1861), and Rutherford Hayes (1877–1881) – and only one, Richard Nixon (1969–1974), resigned while in office.

However, there is no precedent for a presidential candidate to abandon his post just weeks before a convention. Those who opted to do so did so long beforehand and never because of their physical abilities.

Neither Presidents Harry Truman nor Lyndon Johnson faced serious doubts about their ability to be re-elected, as did Coolidge or Theodore Roosevelt. They simply decided not to continue.

The Hayes, Buchanan and Polk announced they would not seek re-election and served only one term.

For his part, Republican President Richard Nixon resigned in August 1974 (the only one in the history of the United States) already during his second term, due to the Watergate affair, an espionage operation orchestrated from the White House against the Democratic Party.

The last American president who was eligible to run again but decided not to do so was Lyndon B. Johnson in March 1968. Facing failing health and growing opposition to the Vietnam War, he stunned the country with the announcement.

With information from EFE

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