David Smith: Guardian Washington correspondent on Joe Biden endorsing Kamala Harris as he exits presidential race

Money and support is flowing in for the top pick to take on Donald Trump in the US presidential election.

Joe Biden is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris after abruptly announcing he's quitting the race.

Endorsements from top Democrats are mounting, with more than $50 million already raised for Harris.

Guardian Washington correspondent David Smith says it's given the Democrats a shot in the arm.

"They were bitterly divided over Joe Biden and dithering and listless, money was drying up - but now it seems to be rallying around Kamala Harris as the nominee."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Afternoon. President Joe Biden has quit the US race for reelection. That,
of course, is not a surprise. It was inevitable. What
is a surprise is how long it's taken for him
to get there, because remember, the disastrous presidential debate with
Donald Trump was more than three weeks ago. The President
has also backed his vice president, Karmala Harris for the nomination.
David Smith is Washington bureau chief for The Guardian High David, Hello,

(00:23):
can she beat Trump?

Speaker 2 (00:26):
Yes, I think it's possible. Were looks like we're heading
for an election that will really be very decisive about
the future of America. You've got an elderly white man
who was instrumental in overturning abortion rights and who rails
against immigration and has made racist comments versus someone who

(00:50):
would be the first female president in history and a
first black woman to be president in American history, and
who's been very outspoken and on reproductive freedom since the
fall of Roe. Versus weighed and right now. Democrats have
given themselves some momentum with this move. They were bitterly

(01:13):
divided over Joe Biden and dithering and listless and money
was drying up. But now on the first day of
Biden's withdrawal, there seems to be a rallying around Kamala
Harris as the nominee, nearly fifty million dollars raised, and

(01:35):
lots of governors and members of Congress, and Bill and
Harry Clinton piling in to throw their weight behind her.
I think a feeling that this has upended the race
and given Democrats a shot at victory. But all of
that said, Trump probably has still a slight lead in

(01:58):
opinion polls, and what we do know based on past
elections is this is going to be very very close.

Speaker 1 (02:05):
Why has an Obama endorsed.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
Her, Well, that's a good question. The Obama camps say
he wants to do what he did in twenty twenty,
which is wait for the party to make its decision
and then weigh in and endorse the nominee. Some people
are interpreting this a great deal about It means maybe

(02:29):
Biden doesn't like Harris so much. Same for others who
haven't endorsed yet. Others suggest let's not overread this. You know,
some people are holding back because they want at least
a day of tribute and respect for Joe Biden and
an Obama's case That's just the way he works before,
you know, waiting for the party to decide the way

(02:54):
things are going. She's accumulating a lot of state party support,
so I suspect it would only be a matter of
time before Obama waves in.

Speaker 1 (03:02):
What do you reckon it is that finally tipped Joe Biden.
I mean, he held out for three weeks and then
has finally made the call. Why.

Speaker 2 (03:13):
My best guess is that he was shown opinion polls
suggesting he was very very likely heading for defeat. There's
even a report on the political website that he was
shown some polling I think on Saturday that said the
past victory was gone, the defeat was certain, and not

(03:38):
only would that mean him losing the White House, but
also it would drag down a lot of his fellow
Democrats in the House of Representatives and sell It could
have given Donald Trump completely free hand, and I think
Biden would believe that was a terrible thing for the country.

(04:00):
He might have also had an eye on his own legacy.
He did not want to go down in history as
a man who saved democracy in twenty twenty only to
then sacrifices that the altar of his own ambition in
twenty twenty four. So I think he may have made
that pragmatic choice and done the thing that so many

(04:25):
were urging him to do. And sure, I think you know,
part of it also was so many Democrats lining up
against him, even a Barmer himself sending some signals Nancy Pelosi,
Chuck Schumer, and then I think we were well above
thirty members of Congress at the time the decision was made.

(04:48):
I think Biden Mush also have felt, Look, even though
in my bones I believe I can beat Trump and
do this job, this is just dragging on so long.
It's a terrible thing for the Democratic Party to be
so I did so that alone is a reason to
pass on the torch.

Speaker 1 (05:04):
David, Thank you very much, really appreciate it. David Smith,
Washington Bureau chief for The Guardian.

Speaker 2 (05:08):
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