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On Sunday afternoon, U.S. President Joe Biden announced he will be dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.
The decision comes after escalating pressure from Biden’s Democratic allies to step aside following the June 27 debate, in which the 81-year-old president trailed off, often gave nonsensical answers and failed to call out the former president’s many falsehoods.
Biden plans to serve out the remainder of his term in office, which ends at noon ET on Jan. 20, 2025.
Following his announcement, contained in a letter, Biden endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris.
BetOnline reopened its election odds and had Harris priced at 2-1. GOP nominee and former U.S. president, Donald Trump, came in at -200 odds, a fall from +260 earlier in the day. Harris is not guaranteed to become the Democratic nominee.
BetOnline had yet to offer VP odds for the Democrat running mate.
Democrats are set to hold their convention in Chicago on Aug. 19-22 with the path ahead is neither easy nor obvious, even with Biden endorsing Harris.
There are still obstacles standing in the way.
Can Biden redirect his delegates? Will anyone challenge Harris? What happens to Biden's campaign money? Can Republicans keep Harris off state ballots?
Bill Barrow of the Associated Press writes:
"State laws, though, typically do not prescribe how parties choose their nominees for president. And some GOP figures – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey – have worked already this year to ensure their party did not deny Democrats’ routine ballot access."
As far as anyone challenging Harris, it's not very likely. Time is not on the side of Democrats. The more likely scenario for her and Democrats is to quickly shore up support and project a united front, Barrow suggests.
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