Vice President Harris has declined to disclose the exact moment she was informed of President Biden's decision to withdraw from the 2024 re-election bid. Despite multiple attempts by news agencies to obtain this information from Harris' office, no response was provided.
Biden's unexpected exit from the presidential race was announced through a written statement on Sunday, contradicting earlier assurances from his communication team that he intended to continue his campaign. Following Biden's withdrawal, Democrats swiftly rallied behind Harris as the potential replacement at the top of the ticket for the upcoming election.
The timeline of when Harris became aware of Biden's decision remains unclear, raising questions about the administration's communication strategy. Reports indicate that only a select group of White House and campaign officials were privy to the president's choice to forgo re-election, further fueling speculation.
Shortly after Biden's announcement, he endorsed Harris as his successor. Without delay, Harris accepted the endorsement and assumed the role as the lead candidate, wasting no time in visiting the revamped campaign headquarters within 24 hours of Biden's exit.
Regarding any potential involvement in discussions to dissuade Biden from running, Harris has not provided a response. Prior to Biden's official withdrawal, over 30 Democratic lawmakers had urged him to step down as the nominee, citing concerns over his fitness to serve. Pressure had been mounting on Biden to reconsider his re-election aspirations, with reports indicating that even his close allies had advised him to reconsider his 2024 bid.
