President Joe Biden reportedly continues to regret his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, maintaining that he could have secured a victory against Donald Trump after Vice President Kamala Harris was crushed in the election.
Biden stepped down following mounting pressure and poor campaign performance, paving the way for Vice President Kamala Harris, who later lost to Trump by over 2 million votes according to Fox News.
The 2024 election cycle was marked by a turbulent period for Biden, whose approval ratings had declined significantly by the middle of the year.
After a lackluster performance during a June 27 debate, calls from within the Democratic Party for Biden to step aside intensified. Many party members believed that his continued candidacy could risk handing the presidency back to Trump.
Facing growing dissent, Biden's campaign also struggled to secure funding as donors expressed waning confidence in his ability to win.
The financial strain, coupled with persistent criticism, culminated in Biden's decision to withdraw from the race on July 21, 2024. In his resignation, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, giving her a short window of just over three months to prepare for the general election.
Despite his withdrawal, Biden reportedly expressed to close confidants that he believed he could have defeated Trump had he stayed in the race. According to sources cited by *The Washington Post*, Biden remarked, "I still believe I could have beaten Trump in the November election."
Harris faced an uphill battle in her bid to secure the presidency. With limited time to campaign and energize the Democratic base, her campaign struggled to build momentum.
Ultimately, she lost to Trump by a margin of 2.2 million votes, bringing the Republican leader back to the Oval Office after his defeat in 2020.
Throughout the post-election period, Biden refrained from blaming Harris for the Democratic loss. Instead, he stood firm in his belief that he would have performed better in a direct contest with Trump, leveraging his prior victory over the Republican in 2020 as evidence.
Biden's regrets extended beyond his presidential campaign. He reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with Attorney General Merrick Garland, whom he had appointed early in his presidency. Biden was reportedly critical of Garland's handling of high-profile cases, including the prosecution of Trump and investigations involving Hunter Biden.
These frustrations reflect broader concerns about the administration’s ability to navigate politically sensitive issues during a deeply polarized era.
Representative James Clyburn, a senior Democratic figure, candidly addressed Biden's challenges in adapting to the shifting political landscape.
Clyburn reportedly told Biden, "Your style does not lend itself well to the environment we’re currently in," pointing to the president's measured approach to governance as a potential liability in fast-paced electoral cycles.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the distinction between governing for long-term success and prioritizing short-term electoral victories. "The president went with doing the things that put America in a strong position," Sullivan remarked.
Trump’s victory in the 2024 election underscored the difficulty the Democratic Party faced in uniting around a candidate after Biden’s departure. The return of a former president to the White House represented a significant political shift and a challenging moment for the Democratic Party.
As Biden reflects on his choices, his regret over stepping aside remains a focal point. The belief that his experience and track record could have led to a different outcome persists among his allies.
Biden’s decision to bow out highlights the complexities of political strategy in an era of intense polarization, where both governance and campaigning demand unwavering focus and adaptability.