Biden withdraws, endorses Harris as Trump gains ground in polls
Joe Biden has withdrawn from the presidential race and endorsed Kamala Harris. The Vice President of the USA will need to secure the approval of the Democratic Party to face off against Donald Trump. Does she have a chance to defeat him? Poll results indicate one trend.
22 July 2024 06:32
Joe Biden recommended Kamala Harris to represent the Democratic Party in the presidential election. On Sunday, the current White House tenant informed the public that he is stepping down from seeking re-election. There had been talk for several weeks about what the US President might decide.
Biden's recent gaffes indicate that his age (81) is slowly taking its toll. One of the most significant events occurred during the last NATO summit when he confused Volodymyr Zelensky with Vladimir Putin. Earlier, during his disastrous performance in the debate with Trump, he had trouble articulating and finishing sentences.
The polls were becoming increasingly unfavourable for Biden. His competitor, Donald Trump, was gaining more and more popularity. After surviving an assassination attempt on July 13 at a campaign rally, he began to appear as a sure bet for victory in the November elections in the eyes of many observers.
Kamala Harris vs. Donald Trump. Polls
After Biden withdrew from the White House race, "The New York Times" recalled recent polls that asked who would win a potential confrontation: Trump or Harris. What do they show? Nationwide, the Vice President has, on average, two percentage points less support than Donald Trump. She trails him 46 to 48 percent. However, this is a better result than Biden, who had 44 percent support compared to Trump's 47 percent.
The American newspaper also draws attention to the results in so-called swing states - those where it is never entirely clear which candidate will win the most votes. In a survey conducted in Pennsylvania before the assassination attempt on Trump, Kamala Harris was trailing Trump by one percentage point. However, she had a 5 percent lead over the Republican candidate in Virginia. In both cases, Harris outperformed Biden, who was losing by 3 percent in Pennsylvania and winning by just 3 points in Virginia.
The Vice President could count on support in the polls primarily from younger people, Black people, and women. "NYT" notes that these are three groups essential for Democrats to achieve victory. Joe Biden seemed to be losing their support.
US Elections. Kamala Harris awaits party decision
Kamala Harris must secure the party's approval during the August convention. It is still not sure that she will face off against Donald Trump. Politicians who might also run for the White House include former First Lady Michelle Obama, Pennsylvania Governor Joe Shapiro, and California Governor Gavin Newsom. Recall that the United States elections will be held on November 5.