Biden quit race for reelection after agonizing over poll data

22/7/2024 11:51

        U.S. President Joe Biden gave most of his aides a mere moment's notice of his decision to quit the race for reelection on Sunday after an agonizing 48 hours poring over polling data which showed his path to victory was closing, two sources said.
        
        Only the day before, Biden was telling many aides that he would continue campaigning to defeat Republican rival Donald Trump in November. In the words of one source, "the message was proceed with everything, full speed ahead".
        
        After digesting the polling data late on Saturday, Biden changed his mind. He gathered his senior White House and campaign team for a call shortly before 1:45 p.m. on Sunday and moments later made his announcement public in a letter to all Americans.
        
        One source said top aides showed Biden internal polling with the jarring news on Saturday night that he was not just trailing in all six critical swing states that could decide the election but also collapsing in places like Virginia and Minnesota where Democrats had not planned on needing to spend massive resources.