In a surprising turn of events, Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential candidate, withdrew from the race on July 20.
This decision came after weeks of mounting pressure for him to step down, particularly after his lackluster performance in the debates. According to The Post Millennial, insiders close to Biden have disclosed that the final push came from none other than former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who reportedly issued an ultimatum to Biden on the eve of his official withdrawal.
The Post Millennial reports that four sources privy to the situation revealed that Pelosi sent an "urgent message" to Biden, who was recuperating from COVID at his family home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The message was a stark ultimatum: Biden must withdraw from the race or face public criticism from Pelosi, a political ally and friend of over 50 years. "The ultimatum was clear: Drop out now or Pelosi trashes her political ally, and friend of over 50 years, on the global stage," the Daily Mail reported. It was also reported that Pelosi threatened to release polling figures to substantiate her concerns about Biden's ability to defeat Trump in the November election.
This ultimatum reportedly led to a moment of reckoning for Biden, prompting him to begin drafting his withdrawal letter. Both the White House and Pelosis office have denied any phone conversation between the two.
In his first television interview post-withdrawal with CBS, Biden revealed, "The polls we had showed that it was a neck and neck race, woulda been down to the wire. But what happened was a number of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought that I was gonna hurt them in the races. And I was concerned if I stayed in the race, that would be the topic." He further expressed his concerns about becoming a distraction, stating, "And I was concerned if I stayed in the race, that would be the topic you'd be interviewing me about why did Nancy Pelosi say [something] and I thought it'd be a real distraction."
Biden's withdrawal from the race, influenced by Pelosi's ultimatum, underscores the internal dynamics and power struggles within the Democratic party. It also raises questions about the party's ability to present a united front against its conservative counterparts.
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