Joe Biden drops out of the presidential race: 'I believe it is in the best interest of my party'

President Joe Biden announced on Sunday he will not seek reelection in the November elections amid growing pressure from fellow Democrats following a series of weak public appearances, including the June 27 debate against GOP nominee Donald Trump.

In a letter published on social media, Biden touted a series of achievements from his administration since he took office. However, he said that even though it was his intention to seek reelection, "I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term." "I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision," he added.

Biden went on to express "my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected." "I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me. I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can't do -- when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America," the letter concludes.

Biden had been facing growing calls to step aside, with most high-ranking Democrats conveying the message in public or private. The campaign was also facing a reduced inflow of cash from donors wary of his chances.

Polls showed that most voters favored Biden dropping out after his dismal debate performance. A survey by AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research from this week showed that nearly two-thirds of Democrats supported such a decision, not far from 70% across the country who gave the same answer. Only three in ten Latinos believed Biden should stay on.

In a follow-up post, Biden endorsed Kamala Harris as his potential successor, saying she has his full "support and endorsement." "Democrats — it's time to come together and beat Trump. Let's do this," he added.

According to a recently published poll by Way to Win, a progressive group that connects donors with campaigns, Harris has a strong support among her party, with almost 7 out of 10 respondents saying they'd support her if President Biden dropped out.

Harris said she intends to win the nomination: "I am honored to have the President's endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination. Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election," she said in a statement.

"And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda."