Political history was made on July 21st when the incumbent president Joe Biden announced his decision to drop out of the presidential race with less than four months remaining until the general election in November. Biden had faced serious political pressure from fellow Democrats and media pundits after he performed disastrously at the first presidential debate on June 27th. An article by the New York Times highlighted the president’s staggering decline in the polls after a several-week period in July.
In Michigan and Wisconsin, two of many crucial swing states, Biden’s poll numbers deteriorated over the last month and contributed to the eventual demise of the long-serving public servant. Biden had initially attempted to remain in the race and opposed individuals – including some major, high-profile Democrats and celebrities – calling on him to step aside. On July 13th, Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, survived a near-assassination attempt while holding a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Following this occurrence, Trump appeared to gain momentum and the Republican voter base was energized and unified at the national convention in Milwaukee.
Questions surrounding Biden’s cognitive competence had been raised years ago by many Republicans – but to no avail. Democrats had been adamant that the president was “sharp as a tack” and capable of handling the rigorous demands of the presidency despite many gaffes over the years. The media went to bat for him too – but following the debate, polls showed that 70% of American voters felt Biden was not fit to serve.
It’s hard not to notice!
That statistic from the same CBS/YouGov national survey increased by 7% over June, showing the sharp decline in positive public perception of Biden. That’s why the president then pivoted and endorsed his Vice President Kamala Harris as a replacement. And she got to work quickly, too.
Harris smashed fundraising efforts and raised $81 million in just 24 hours after Biden announced he would be endorsing her to replace him on the party’s ticket. She also received the support of several prominent Democrats like Phil Murphy, Josh Shapiro, and Hillary Clinton. Harris’s candidacy appears to have rejuvenated the Democratic party and may help the left renew their appeal to crucial moderate and independent voters in important swing states that will likely decide the upcoming election.