Biden Quit 2024 Race 107 Days Before Election as Jill Biden Details Debate Collapse
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · May 29
Biden Quit 2024 Race 107 Days Before Election as Jill Biden Details Debate Collapse
4 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · May 29
Three weeks after his June 2024 debate against Donald Trump, Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race with 107 days left, a decision Jill Biden says followed a performance that abruptly ended his political career.
In her 275-page memoir, published June 2, Jill Biden writes that Biden "lost himself" onstage, wondered if medication or overcoaching played a role, and says he admitted afterward, "I really f---ed up."
Democratic pressure then hardened the crisis: she says aide Steve Ricchetti warned that senators were preparing a letter urging Biden to quit, a blow she believed would have broken the former 36-year senator's heart.
Jill Biden also recounts Kamala Harris pressing for an immediate endorsement once Biden called with his decision, arguing any delay could invite Democratic "mischief" from rivals seeking the nomination.
The memoir revisits the fallout around Biden's age, aides' rejection of a cognitive test, and his eventual reconciliation with Nancy Pelosi, underscoring how the debate reshaped both his campaign and party standing.
What does a first lady's memoir reveal about the private family talks that can change a nation's course?
How did White House doctors fail to diagnose the president's advanced cancer before he left office?
From Biden’s Debate Exit to Harris-Walz: How the 2024 Democratic Ticket Was Transformed
Overview
After President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race, Vice President Kamala Harris quickly consolidated support and became the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee. By early August, she had secured endorsements from a majority of Democratic delegates, with at least 27 state delegations backing her. Harris credited her home state of California for crucial support and released a statement declaring her commitment to earning the nomination. This rapid shift energized the Democratic base, setting the stage for a new ticket and a renewed campaign focus as the party prepared for the general election.