Washington

Minutes after quitting the presidential race, US President Joe Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democrat nominee for the November elections. 

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"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," wrote Biden on X, formerly Twitter. 

"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," he added.

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Also read | Joe Biden finally bows to pressure, withdraws from US presidential race

What happens now?

Democrats now have to choose a new nominee. Their Democratic convention is in Chicago Monday, 19 August, through Thursday, 22 August.

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Biden has already endorsed Kamala Harris - meaning, she leads the race and in all likelihood, will be approved at the convention. Consequently, she would become the first US presidential candidate of Indian origin. After that, if she wins the November election, she will become the first woman and Indian origin president of the US.

Harris's name had been doing the rounds to replace Biden ever since the first presidential debate took place last month. Biden could not hold his own in the debate as he stumbled, stuttered and zoned out multiple times. 

Post the debate, the chorus grew within the Democrats and top leaders started openly asking Biden to drop out of the race. 

Also read | 'Crooked Joe Biden wasn't...': Trump reacts after Biden drops out of the presidential race

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held a private conversation with Biden and conveyed that he would not be able to defeat Trump, come November. Similarly, former president Barack Obama, who steadfastly supported Biden during his term, has also now told allies that Biden needed to reconsider his re-election bid. 

Obama was of the view that there was no path to victory for the 81-year-old who should "seriously consider the viability of his candidacy".

(With inputs from agencies)