Skip to content

A reluctant decision resets the 2024 presidential campaign

I. President Joe Biden bows out

On July 24, President Biden followed up on his July 21 with an Oval Office address to the nation.

I draw strength and I find joy in working for the American people. But this sacred task of perfecting our Union — it’s not about me. It’s about you, your families, your futures. It’s about “We the People.” We can never forget that, and I never have.
I’ve made it clear that I believe America is at an inflection point, one of those rare moments in history when the decisions we make now will determine our fate of our nation and the world for decades to come. America is going to have to choose between moving forward or backward, between hope and hate, between unity and division.

II. Vice President Kamala Harris steps in

After quickly consolidating support to become the Democratic nominee, the vice president immediately launches her campaign against Donald Trump.

III. Trump whines

IV. Republicans revert to type

The GOP pulls out the race and gender cards: "Rightwing playbooks deployed in past election campaigns are being dusted off for an all-out assault against Vice-President Kamala Harris, the de facto Democratic nominee aiming to become the first Black woman and first person of south Asian descent to be US president."

Trump is still Trump: “I call her Laffin’ Kamala,” he said. “You ever watch her laugh? She’s crazy. You can tell a lot by a laugh. She’s crazy. She’s nuts.”

And, continuing the middle school insults, "She's dumb as a rock."

V. While Democrats (and small-d democrats) celebrate

First, Democrats acknowledge that Nancy Pelosi is masterful. She coaxed our president to defer to a new generation of leadership. "Can we all admit there was something supremely gratifying about watching Nancy Pelosi work over the last few weeks?" Yes, we can. A recent Rueters Ipsos poll showed that Democrats overwhelmingly approved (86%) of Biden bowing out and an even higher number of Democrats (89%) endorsed Harris as the nominee.

As Democrats rally behind Kamala Harris ("We're not going back!"), she is offering a vision for the future for all Americans that challenges MAGA appeals to return to a fabled past when only some of us counted.

Come November 5, the American people will decide which path the country takes.