Explainer | How Joe Biden’s re-election bid unravelled in 25 days: from debate debacle to dropping out
In one of the worst political calculations in American history, President Joe Biden bet an early debate with Donald Trump would boost his election odds. It backfired spectacularly, crystallising concerns over his age and acuity and immediately throwing his final campaign into crisis.
These are the highlights from 25 key days spanning the debate and the historic end to his re-election bid:
Day 1 – Thursday, June 27
Doubts emerge immediately over his viability as a candidate as more than 50 million viewers watch Biden stumble through a startlingly bad 90-minute, prime-time debate against Trump.
Day 2 – Friday, June 28
Calls for Biden to drop out intensify, including by The New York Times’ editorial board, but his aides insist that’s not on the table.
Day 4 – Sunday, June 30
The Biden camp goes on the offensive, with surrogates flooding the Sunday Washington talk shows in hopes of staunching the bleeding.
Day 6 – Tuesday, July 2
Democratic defections begin, with Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett the first member of Congress to call on Biden to withdraw from the race.
Day 7 – Wednesday, July 3
More unease among congressional Democrats spills into the public, with members calling on leadership to intervene, while Biden tells a hastily arranged meeting of about 20 Democratic governors he’s still intent on running.
Day 9 – Friday, July 5
The first week of the crisis concludes with Biden digging in on ABC News, using his first prime-time interview since the debate to insist he’s running and that only the “Lord Almighty” could stop him, in a reference to God. He denies that he’s behind Trump in the polls.
Day 12 – Monday, July 8
With Congress back from break, Biden tries to fight back against his own party, doubling down in a defiant two-page letter to Democrats.
Day 14 – Wednesday, July 10
Signs of serious doubts among the party leadership emerge as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, during an appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, dodges an opportunity to offer her endorsement.
Day 15 – Thursday, July 11
All eyes turn to Biden’s post-Nato press conference – his first lengthy question and answer session in over a year – amid reports congressional leaders are signalling their interest in him dropping out.
Day 17 – Saturday, July 13
The extraordinarily close-call assassination attempt on Trump thrusts the campaign into further crisis, putting Biden on the defensive and boosting the former president’s support.
Day 21 – Wednesday, July 17
Pressure mounts again on Biden after the brief pause over the shock of the Trump shooting.
04:50
Trump rally shooting: Biden orders security review, FBI believes shooter acted alone
Trump rally shooting: Biden orders security review, FBI believes shooter acted alone
Day 23 – Friday, July 19
A day after reports show some members of Biden’s cabinet have had private discussions among themselves about his increasingly dim electoral prospects, Biden gives still no public sign he might drop out.
Day 24 – Saturday, July 20
At his house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Biden and his closest family members are approaching the momentous decision, alongside others of the president’s inner circle including Ricchetti, Donilon, Annie Tomasini and Anthony Bernal. By evening’s end, Biden is beginning to consider dropping out, but the campaign is told to proceed full steam ahead.
Day 25 – Sunday, July 21
With the decision made by morning, Biden places calls to Harris, White House chief of staff Jeff Zients, and O’Malley Dillon with the heads-up and drafts an announcement letter with his team in Rehoboth Beach.
At 1:45pm, Biden convenes a call with senior White House and campaign officials – including many who were learning of the decision for the first time. A minute later, the letter declaring his intent to drop out of the race is posted to social media: “I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term.”
Less than a half-hour later, Biden releases another post endorsing Harris.
