Harris will be easier to beat than ‘worst president’ Biden: Trump
Former U.S. President Donald Trump smiles as he speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Jan 31, 2018 (AP Photo)
In a significant turn of events, President Joe Biden announced his decision to exit the 2024 presidential race on Sunday, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. Biden’s withdrawal comes amid growing concerns within the Democratic Party about his mental acuity and his ability to defeat Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.
Trump’s reaction
Republican candidate Donald Trump swiftly responded, asserting that Harris would be a less formidable opponent compared to Biden in a phone interview with CNN minutes after Biden’s announcement
Harris will be easier to beat than Joe Biden would have been
Donald Trump
‘Worst president’ in US history
Trump and his campaign wasted no time attacking both Biden and Harris on social media. On his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump said Biden “was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve,” while calling him the “worst president” in American history.
Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve — And never was! We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage he has done very quickly. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
Donald Trump
Top Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, echoed Trump’s sentiments, with Johnson calling for Biden’s resignation.
Targeting Harris
Publicly, Trump’s campaign advisers expressed confidence in defeating Harris by linking her to Biden’s record, particularly on contentious issues like immigration and inflation.
Jason Miller, one of Trump’s closest advisors, stated, “Nothing fundamentally changes. Any ‘radical liberal’ Democratic opponent, Harris or otherwise, shares the responsibility for the failure of destroying our economy.”
In a statement following Biden’s exit, the Trump campaign labeled Harris as Biden’s “enabler in chief,” emphasizing that their records are intertwined. The Republican National Committee also released a video targeting Harris over immigration policies, accusing her of neglecting the issue.
Biden’s struggles
Biden’s decision to step aside followed a weak performance in a recent debate against Trump, which amplified doubts about his ability to secure reelection. Despite being mostly tied in polls, Biden’s debate performance led some polls to show Trump narrowly ahead.
Campaign strategy shifts
Trump’s campaign had already begun strategizing for the possibility of Biden’s withdrawal. A source familiar with the campaign’s plans indicated that reallocating resources and rethinking ad spending would be necessary to counter any Democratic candidate, given their unique strengths and weaknesses compared to Biden.
Democratic competition
Despite Biden’s endorsement, Harris is not guaranteed to lead the Democratic ticket. She may face competition from other prominent Democrats, including members of Congress and several governors, who could challenge her for the nomination.
