braking news Inside Biden’s unprecedented exit from the presidential race

President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race in an unexpected manner, posting a letter on social media while recovering from Covid-19 at his Delaware home. This decision came after weeks of insisting he would not drop out, following a poorly received debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Despite Biden's initial determination to continue, pressure from party leaders, lawmakers, donors, and polling data indicating a potentially insurmountable deficit against Trump led to his exit.
Biden's campaign had hoped the early debate would revitalize his candidacy, but it had the opposite effect, raising concerns about his age and health. With the election just 107 days away, Biden conceded that he was a liability to the Democratic ticket and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the new nominee. This move was seen as a risky strategy to unify the party and refocus the campaign.
Biden's final decision to step down was made in the last 48 hours, after consulting with family and advisors. It was driven by the realization that his presence was hindering the party's chances of defeating Trump, rather than any medical issues. The information presented to Biden highlighted the severe damage to his campaign's path to victory, with no single factor or individual pushing him towards his decision.
Before the conclusion of a meeting, President Biden indicated his intention to withdraw from the race and initiated preparations for the announcement, including drafting a letter and planning its release. He spent the weekend at his Delaware residence with First Lady Jill Biden, following a family meeting on Saturday night. After confirming his decision on Sunday morning, he began notifying key individuals outside his immediate circle of advisors and family.

The decision to drop out was discussed with only a select few aides, leaving some in his inner circle unaware until just before the public announcement. Despite rumors, a Biden aide denied that the debate performance influenced the decision, stating that neither Biden nor his family blamed the debate team. Biden communicated with Vice President Harris and other senior staff members, informing them of his decision.

Chief of Staff Jeff Zients is expected to address the White House staff and political appointees across the administration. The vice president, who is Biden's chosen successor, was informed of the decision on the day of the announcement.