46th President Joe Biden released a statement annoucing to the Americans that he stands down from the presidential race, although it was his intention to seek re-election and will only focus on presidential duties.
After the worst presidential debate with former President Donald Trump, which exposed Biden as experiencing severe cognitive decline, he (Biden) has been gradually losing his key support. According to Business Standards based in the USA, “a group of Biden fundraisers have decided to put hold $90 million (one billion, six hundred forty-six million, six hundred twenty thousand, five hundred sixty rands) in contribution pledged earlier if he remains on the top of the Democratic ticket.” This method was used to force him to stand down from the re-election campaign.
Joe’s X (formerly known as Twitter) account said, “My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my vice president, and it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today, I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats, it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
Former President Bill Clinton and his wife said, “We are honoured to join the President in endorsing Vice President Harris and will do whatever we can to support her.”
Kamala Harris will need to secure the backing of 1,986 Democratic delegates to secure the party’s nomination. The Democratic fund-raising group ActBlue raised $47 million (eight hundred fifty-nine million, nine hundred one thousand, eight hundred forty-eight rands), and it’s up to $66 million (one billion, two hundred seven million, five hundred twenty-one thousand, seven hundred forty-four rands) as the base to mobilise around Harris.
The endorsement of Harris by Biden was received with mixed reactions; it is alleged that the Vice President slept her way to the top. When she was 29 years old, she had an affair with 60-year-old Willie Brown, a married California house speaker, mayor of San Francisco, and one of the most powerful in California. It’s alleged that Mr. Brown bought Kamala expensive gifts and appointed her to the California Medical Assistance Commission; that job paid $72, 000 a year, and he also appointed her to the State’s Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, a job that cost another $97, 088 a year. Willie Brown faced an FBI corruption investigation for handing out contracts and appointments to friends and political allies.
In 1995, Willie dumped Kamala; however, he continued helping out Kamala. Mr. Brown said, “I certainly helped with her (Vice President Harris) first race for district attorney in San Francisco.”
A Reuters fact check mentioned that Kamala Harris and Willie Brown had a relationship over a decade after he separated from his wife.
