Joe Biden ‘doubted VP Kamala Harris can beat Trump which delayed his exit from race’ – as WH insists Covid wasn’t reason
DITHERING Joe Biden hit the pause button on quitting the presidential race as he questioned Kamala Harris’s ability to conquer Donald Trump.
Harris, 59, is two decades younger than her potential Republican rival - who has dismissed her as “crazy.”
The revelation comes as Biden's youngest brother spilled on the real reason for his sibling’s shock decision to quit the presidential contest.
The current VP has been endorsed by the outgoing president - and she has vowed “to earn and win this nomination."
But, it has been revealed that Biden stumbled over possibly handing the baton to his VP as he and his senior advisers feared she was not a strong enough candidate to challenge Trump, reported .
Questions were raised about her suitability to take on the task because of her infamous unpopularity with staff.
She has also raised questions after showing little progress on her portfolios of protecting voting rights and stemming migration from Central America.
Some of her former aides - speaking anonymously - told Axios that Harris was unpopular for "prosecuting the staff."
Of the 47 Harris staffers listed back in 2021, just five have remained loyal and still worked for her as of this spring, said Axios, citing Senate disclosures.
But, she was defended by Carmel Martin, her former domestic policy adviser.
“It really boils down to this: it has to do with his overall health and vitality," he said yesterday.
"Not anything cognitive. But he’s a proud guy, it pisses him off that he shuffles when he walks.
“Joe has one thing uppermost in his mind. It’s not him, not his ego, not his ambition. He has really reached a place where the only thing that matters to him is the health of this nation."
MANCHIN OUT
It also comes as West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin has now confirmed he won't challenge Harris.
"I'm not running for office," Manchin told on Monday.
"I'm not going to be a candidate for president... I don't need that in my life."
And there appears to be a big fight looming over who's picked to be her running mate.
Beshear said it was "flattering" to hear he is joining the growing throng of possible VP contenders.
But he remained coy when pressed about his ambitions.
"The only way I would consider something other than this current job is if I believe I could further help my people and to help this country," he said.
"I think if somebody calls you on that, you at least listen."
FULL SUPPORT
Additional endorsements for Harris have come from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Whitmer was seen as a possible rival for the Democratic nomination after Biden's massive U-turn.
"Today, I am fired up to endorse Kamala Harris for President of the United States," Whitmer announced.
"She’s a former prosecutor, a champion for reproductive freedom, and I know that she’s got Michigan’s back.
"That’s in stark contrast to Donald Trump, a convicted felon who stokes violence, overturned Roe, attacked our auto industry which hardworking families depend on, left office after losing 100,000 manufacturing jobs, and drove our economy into the ground last time he was in the White House.
"Vice President Harris has my full support."
UNDER PRESSURE
Biden has not been seen in public since testing positive for Covid on Wednesday.
A scathing Trump reacted in a post on Truth Social that Biden “was not fit to run for president, and is certainly not fit to serve.”
"The Democrats pick a candidate, Crooked Joe Biden, he loses the Debate badly, then panics, and makes mistake after mistake, is told he can’t win, and decide they will pick another candidate, probably Harris," thundered Trump.
The Republican star also attacked Biden's cognitive ability.
"It’s a new day and Joe Biden doesn’t remember quitting the race yesterday!" wrote Trump.
"He is demanding his campaign schedule and arranging talks with Presidents Xi of China, and Putin of Russia, concerning the possible start of World War 3."
Biden announced that he was stepping back from the 2024 race after facing increased pressure from his own party.
And his abrupt withdrawal from his reelection bid was not due to his Covid diagnosis, officials have confirmed.
The announcement came just days after Biden tested positive for Covid-19 leading many to speculate about the reasons for his change of heart.
Just hours before pulling out of the race, Biden was posting on X about his continued desire to run for another term.
However, officials have confirmed that the positive Covid-19 test was not behind the president's decision, per .
"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 focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term," Biden said.
It came after increased pressure from senior party figures and major donors following Biden's disastrous presidential debate against rival Trump last month.
STEADY 'DEMISE'
Since the performance during which the President stumbled over his words and launched into a bizarre conversation about golf, he has made a series of other public blunders.
At the same time, Trump's popularity has increased following his survival of an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The former President formally accepted the GOP nomination for president at the Republican National Convention last week.
Things seemed to come to a head on July 17 when Biden tested positive for Covid-19 after weeks of renewed pressure to prove that his health was up to scratch after appearing confused and admitting to being tired.
The decision to back out of his reelection bid just days after getting a positive test has been interpreted by Trump as a sign of weakness and confirmation that Biden was intimidated by his rival.
Trump has claimed on Truth Social that Biden does not have Covid and instead has used it as a way out after the debate which the former president called "the big moment in Joe Biden's demise."
"Does anybody really believe that Crooked Joe had Covid?" he asked in a on Truth Social.
"He wanted to get out ever since June 27th, the night of The Debate, where he was completely obliterated.
Senior officials reportedly showed the President worrying data on Saturday evening about his poll performance that showed he was behind in all six swing states.
It comes as:
- Biden's past his sell-by date, Nigel Farage says.
- Top Republicans including Trump's VP pick call for Biden to resign now
- The Sun says Biden's done the decent thing by quitting the race.
- Trump brands Kamala Harris incompetent.
- What happens next after Biden exits the presidential race?
- Chaotic 48 hours before withdrawal emerge.
- Expert says Biden did the right thing as he was a liability.
Biden was also dwindling in areas like Virginia and Minnesota where the Democrats do not usually have to pool their resources due to higher levels of support there compared to other places.
The president informed aides of his decision just minutes before informing the country.
He "had wrestled with [the decision] over the last 48 hours," an insider told the news outlet.
The president said he will further address the country about his decision later this week.
In the meantime, he has backed his vice-president Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee for the 2024 election.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Harris has accepted the President's support and that of other high-profile Democrats and donors.
However, there could be several Democrats who decide to throw their hat in the ring before a nominee is chosen at the Democratic Convention next month in Illinois.
Full list of Democrats who have endorsed Kamala Harris
- President Joe Biden
- Gov. Roy Cooper, North Carolina
- Gov. Gavin Newsom, California
- Gov. John Carney, Delaware
- Gov. Josh Green, Hawaii
- Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York
- Gov. Jay Inslee, Washington
- Gov. Janet Mills, Maine
- Gov. Phil Murphy, New Jersey
- Gov. Jared Polis, Colorado
- Gov. Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania
- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
- Sen. Chris Murphy, Connecticut
- Sen. Mark Warner, Virginia
- Sen. Raphael Warnock, Georgia
- Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin
- Sen. Michael Bennet, Colorado
- Sen. Sherrod Brown, Ohio
- Sen. Laphonza Butler, California
- Sen. Maria Cantwell, Washington
- Sen. Ben Cardin, Maryland
- Sen. Bob Casey, Pennsylvania
- Sen. Chris Coons, Delaware
- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Nevada
- Sen. Martin Heinrich, New Mexico
- Sen. John Hickenlooper, Colorado
- Sen. Mazie Hirono, Hawaii
- Sen. Tim Kaine, Virginia
- Sen. Mark Kelly, Arizona
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, New Mexico
- Sen. Ed Markey, Massachusetts
- Sen. Patty Murray, Washington
- Sen. Jon Ossoff, Georgia
- Sen. Alex Padilla, California
- Sen. Gary Peters, Michigan
- Sen. Jacky Rosen, Nevada
- Sen. Brian Schatz, Hawaii
- Sen. Tina Smith, Minnesota
- Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Michigan
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts
- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island
- Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon
- Rep. Steny Hoyer, Maryland
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York
- Rep. Nancy Pelosi, California
- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey
- Rep. Elissa Slotkin, Michigan
- Rep. Colin Allred, Texas
- Rep. Gabe Amo, Rhode Island
- Rep. Jake Auchincloss, Massachusetts
- Rep. Becca Balint, Vermont
- Rep. Nanette Barragan, California
- Rep. Joyce Beatty, Ohio
- Rep. Ami Bera, California
- Rep. Don Beyer, Virginia
- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon
- Rep. Jamaal Bowman, New York
- Rep. Brendan Boyle, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Shontel Brown, Ohio
- Rep. Julia Brownley, California
- Rep. Nikki Budzinski, Illinois
- Rep. Cori Bush, Missouri
- Rep. Yadira Caraveo, Colorado
- Rep. Salud Carbajal, California
- Rep. Andre Carson, Indiana
- Rep. Troy Carter, Louisiana
- Rep. Greg Casar, Texas
- Rep. Sean Casten, Illinois
- Rep. Kathy Castor, Florida
- Rep. Joaquin Castro, Texas
- Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Florida
- Rep. Judy Chu, California
- Rep. Yvette Clarke, New York
- Rep. Jim Clyburn, South Carolina
- Rep. Steve Cohen, Tennessee
- Rep. Gerry Connolly, Virginia
- Rep. Joe Courtney, Connecticut
- Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Texas
- Rep. Jason Crow, Colorado
- Rep. Danny Davis, Illinois
- Rep. Madeleine Dean, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Diana DeGette, Colorado
- Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut
- Rep. Debbie Dingell, Michigan
- Rep. Veronica Escobar, Texas
- Rep. Dwight Evans, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Teresa Fernandez, New Mexico
- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, Texas
- Rep. Bill Foster, Illinois
- Rep. Lois Frankel, Florida
- Rep. Maxwell Frost, Florida
- Rep. Ruben Gallego, Arizona
- Rep. John Garamendi, California
- Rep. Mike Garcia, California
- Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Texas
- Rep. Jesus Garcia, Illinois
- Rep. Daniel Goldman, New York
- Rep. Jimmy Gomez, California
- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, New Jersey
- Rep. Raúl Grijalva, Arizona
- Rep. Jahana Hayes, Connecticut
- Rep. Steven Horsford, Nevada
- Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Val Hoyle, Oregon
- Rep. Jared Huffman, California
- Rep. Glenn Ivey, Maryland
- Rep. Jeff Jackson, North Carolina
- Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Illinois
- Rep. Sara Jacobs, California
- Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Washington
- Rep. Hank Johnson, Georgia
- Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, California
- Rep. Bill Keating, Massachusetts
- Rep. Robin Kelly, Illinois
- Rep. Ro Khanna, California
- Rep. Dan Kildee, Michigan
- Rep. Andy Kim, New Jersey
- Rep. Greg Landsman, Ohio
- Rep. Rick Larsen, Washington
- Rep. Barbara Lee, California
- Rep. Summer Lee, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Susie Lee, Nevada
- Rep. Mike Levin, California
- Rep. Ted Lieu, California
- Rep. Seth Magaziner, Rhode Island
- Rep. Kathy Manning, North Carolina
- Rep. Lucy McBath, Georgia
- Rep. Jennifer McClellan, Virginia
- Rep. Betty McCollum, Minnesota
- Rep. Morgan McGarvey, Kentucky
- Rep. Jim McGovern, Massachusetts
- Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, New Hampshire
- Rep. Gregory Meeks, New York
- Rep. Rob Menendez, New Jersey
- Rep. Grace Meng, New York
- Rep. Kweisi Mfume, Maryland
- Rep. Gwen Moore, Wisconsin
- Rep. Jared Moskowitz, Florida
- Rep. Seth Moulton, Massachusetts
- Rep. Kevin Mullin, California
- Rep. Jerry Nadler, New York
- Rep. Joe Neguse, Colorado
- Rep. Ilhan Omar, Minnesota
- Rep. Frank Pallone, New Jersey
- Rep. Chris Pappas, New Hampshire
- Rep. Bill Pascrell, New Jersey
- Rep. Brittany Pettersen, Colorado
- Rep. Mark Pocan, Wisconsin
- Rep. Katie Porter, California
- Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Massachusetts
- Rep. Mike Quigley, Illinois
- Rep. Delia Ramirez, Illinois
- Rep. Jamie Raskin, Maryland
- Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware
- Rep. Deborah Ross, North Carolina
- Rep. C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger, Maryland
- Rep. Andrea Salinas, Oregon
- Rep. Linda Sanchez, California
- Rep. John Sarbanes, Maryland
- Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Illinois
- Rep. Adam Schiff, California
- Rep. Brad Schneider, Illinois
- Rep. Hillary Scholten, Michigan
- Rep. Bobby Scott, Virginia
- Rep. Terri Sewell, Alabama
- Rep. Brad Sherman, California
- Rep. Adam Smith, Washington
- Rep. Abigail Spanberger, Virginia
- Rep. Melanie Stansbury, New Mexico
- Rep. Greg Stanton, Arizona
- Rep. Haley Stevens, Michigan
- Rep. Marilyn Strickland, Washington
- Rep. Eric Swalwell, California
- Rep. Emilia Sykes, Ohio
- Rep. Mark Takano, California
- Rep. Shri Thanedar, Michigan
- Rep. Terry Thompson, Missouri
- Rep. Dina Titus, Nevada
- Rep. Jill Tokuda, Hawaii
- Rep. Paul Tonko, New York
- Rep. Norma Torres, California
- Rep. Ritchie Torres, New York
- Rep. Lori Trahan, Massachusetts
- Rep. David Trone, Maryland
- Rep. Lauren Underwood, Illinois
- Rep. Gabe Vasquez, New Mexico
- Rep. Marc Veasey, Texas
- Rep. Nydia Velazquez, New York
- Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida
- Rep. Maxine Waters, California
- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, New Jersey
- Rep. Jennifer Wexton, Virginia
- Rep. Susan Wild, Pennsylvania
- Rep. Nikema Williams, Georgia
- Rep. Frederica Wilson, Florida