President Joe Biden has reportedly expressed remorse over his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. This decision marks an unprecedented event in American politics, as Biden is the first incumbent-elected President to withdraw from a re-election campaign, as per several sources privy to recent discussions.
Throughout December 2024, Biden reportedly told his aides and confidants that he believes he could have beaten Trump, despite facing decreasing poll numbers that led to his withdrawal. This belief, which he frequently expressed without criticizing Harris’ campaign, partly stems from his previous victory over Trump in 2020. However, Biden also acknowledges the impact of his lackluster June debate performance and low approval ratings on his decision to exit the race.
Biden’s decision to withdraw was made in the wake of falling poll numbers. By the time he withdrew, Biden’s national approval rating had plummeted to a low of 37%, marking the lowest point of his presidency.
The June 27 debate proved to be a crucial point in Biden’s campaign. His performance raised eyebrows when he appeared to mix up current global conflicts and struggled to defend his economic policies against sharp criticism. The debate was watched by 14.8 million viewers and served as a turning point for the Democratic Party’s leadership.
Following the debate, campaign financing took a significant hit. Three major Democratic donors, who had previously contributed a total of $10.4 million to Biden’s 2020 campaign, withdrew their support in July. This resulted in the campaign’s second-quarter fundraising decreasing by 35% compared to the first quarter.
“Your style does not lend itself well to the environment we’re currently in,” Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., advised Biden in a meeting earlier this year, discussing the difference between style and substance.
The shift to Harris’ candidacy led to unprecedented legal challenges for the Democratic Party. Questions surrounding campaign funding transfers and delegate allocation necessitated swift legal scrutiny.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan reflected on the administration’s priorities, stating, “How to govern at this moment to set the U.S. up for long-term success has one answer, and how to govern to deal with midterm and presidential elections in the very short-term might have a different answer. The president went with doing the things that put America in a strong position.”
Harris’ short-lived campaign struggled to uphold Biden’s coalition, and Trump eventually defeated Harris by a margin of 2.2 million votes.
Biden has privately admitted to questioning several administrative decisions, including his appointment of Merrick Garland as attorney general. Originally convinced by his aides that Garland would be a consensus choice, Biden has since expressed frustration with the slow progress of Trump-related prosecutions, while believing his son Hunter faced an overly zealous prosecution.
Biden’s decision had significant repercussions within the Democratic Party’s infrastructure. It led to the resignation of five state Democratic Party chairs in protest and forced the Democratic National Committee to restructure its entire general election strategy within just 98 days of Election Day.
