Biden withdraws from the race and endorses Kamala Harris: an unprecedented move. The vice-president: 'I will beat Trump'

Resistance to Biden had begun before the disastrous debate with Donald Trump: discontent had been raised at the breaking of his promise to be a transitional President, to pave the way for a new generation of Democratic leaders by committing to a mission to first restore normality to American politics and democracy after the escalation of chaos and crisis during Trump's first term. Biden explained his decision to run again by citing the still high stakes for the country represented by Trump's return. Actually decisive to his decision would have been the result of the Midterm elections in 2022, when a feared Republican wave in Congress failed to materialise and a number of Trump-sponsored candidates failed at the ballot box. Biden read that result as a vote of confidence in his leadership and pushed him to minimise the risks.

The White House's careful management of these risks was shattered by the televised debate. The spectacle of Biden exhibiting shocking fragility after having wanted the duel brought out the initial handful of dissidents among the parliamentarians, among those who saw their seats, especially in the House, in danger in the face of Joe Biden's decline. These were first and foremost centrists, almost always candidates in uncertain constituencies with a strong presence of independent voters. Among these voters even more than among the Democrats, the polls were failing Biden. The first congressman to take the field in early July was 77-year veteran Lloyd Doggett of Texas, later followed by dozens of colleagues, from Arizona to Michigan, from Illinois to Colorado. A senator with an independent tradition also broke ranks, Peter Welch, later followed by four others.

The initial fray was met, in addition to Biden's anger, with support for him from the party's left wing and the African-American group in Congress. Biden's connection with black voters is historic, and reflects in part their tendency to support establishment figures in the party: Biden's initial bid in the 2020 Democratic primary was saved by a landslide victory in South Carolina due to the mobilisation of the black vote. The Congressional Black Caucus representing a quarter of the deputies in the House had maintained its support for the President to the last.The left, of Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, initially squared off seeing in Biden an ally, after he had governed with more progressive policies than those dictated by his reputation as a moderate, from support for the union to the energy transition plan to anti-trust. This despite disagreements over the war in Gaza.

Biden's resistance, as the revolt spread, was also motivated by scepticism towards some senior party figures. Biden has never forgiven Barack Obama and apparently the Democratic nomenclature for pushing him aside in 2016 to make way for Hillary Clinton's candidacy, which was then beaten by Trump.But with Biden's inability to deliver convincing performances, at Nato as well as in interviews and on TV, the faction has grown. It forced the postponement to August of a virtual delegate count to formalise Biden's nomination before the party convention in Chicago. The names of the open rebels became increasingly heavy. Among them Californian congressman and candidate for senator Adam Schiff, Trump's grand inquisitor.Obama, formally neutral, has nevertheless sent growing messages today in favour of a withdrawal. He gave the go-ahead to an appeal to this effect by George Clooney, until then among the most influential donors.

The exodus of donors, from Hollywood to tech who have blocked new funds to force an alternative, has multiplied the pressure from outside. Even Biden's campaign co-chairman, mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg, in face-to-face talks with the President confirmed the evaporation of money. Obama then for his part broke ranks by expressing concerns more directly to other influential Democratic leaders. And the party leadership moved more and more explicitly: Nancy Pelosi, respected former Speaker of the House, privately warned Biden that any electoral hopes in the House were compromised by his candidacy. Similar alarm was brought to Biden by House Majority Whip Hakeem Jeffries, while Senate Leader Chuck Schumer also warned the President of the spectre of overwhelming defeat. At this point the informal coalition included leaders, centrists and progressives, donors and even confidants of the President, including media personality Je Scarborough. And even the inner circle of family members and loyal aides lowered their weapons, preparing for Biden's surrender.