Biden Drops Out of Race for Second Term

Pressure from Democrats Forces President's Exit

WASHINGTON, D.C. --

President Joe Biden has abandoned his campaign for a second term under intense pressure from fellow Democrats. The decision comes amid mounting concerns about Biden's age and declining approval ratings.

In a statement released on Sunday, Biden said he had made the "difficult decision" to withdraw from the race "in the best interest of the country." He thanked his supporters and vowed to continue serving the nation in other ways.

Biden's departure from the race upends the Democratic primary and sets up a potentially chaotic scramble for the party's nomination. Several potential candidates have already indicated they are considering entering the race, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

The party's official nominating convention is scheduled for mid-August, but a Democratic official told CNN that "all bets are off" if Biden drops out. The party may need to hold an earlier convention or find a way to quickly coalesce around a new nominee.