you win. cheering but republicans seized on and shared every moment, like standing frozen amongst dancing people. looking lost and confused while meeting other world leader. or having to be let off stage by barack obama out of party fundraising. under extreme pressure, the president knew he couldn't afford any more mistakes. he then said this at a nato summit. haw any more mistakes. he then said this at a nato summit.— any more mistakes. he then said this at a nato summit. now i want to head over to the president _ at a nato summit. now i want to head over to the president of _ over to the president of ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination. losing gentlemen, president putin. when donald trump was almost killed, there was a chance he would command so much attention people would forget. as there is a striking

contrast. the president because my fate was sealed when he stepped onto the stage. it was him who called for an early debate. —— the president's. sarah smith, bbc news, washington. know, we need another candidate if we're going to win this in november. a reminder there are some of the things that have happened over the net last hour. as we've been reporting, via the reuters news agency, as of last night he was all for staying in the race. of course to this afternoon according to someone familiar with this situation he had second thoughts. he rethought it and told his senior staff that he was going to withdraw from the race.

this is how it was reported and that sort of contemporary way, we are getting used to seeing it, very large bits of news, breaking news, posted on social media, in this case it was the x platform, twitter. it wasn'tjust it was the x platform, twitter. it wasn't just a tweet, it was the x platform, twitter. it wasn'tjust a tweet, it it was the x platform, twitter. it wasn't just a tweet, it was it was the x platform, twitter. it wasn'tjust a tweet, it was a long letter. it reads, my fellow americans, overthe letter. it reads, my fellow americans, over the last three and a half years we have made great progress. we've made historic investments in rebuilding our nation, lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, nation, lowering prescription drug costs forseniors, expanding costs for seniors, expanding affordable costs forseniors, expanding affordable health care to a record number of americans. we've provided critical care to millions of veterans, past the first gun safety law in 30 years, a point of the first african—american woman to the supreme court and passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. america has never been better positioned to lead then we are today. he goes in this letter i know everything cannot

be done without you. together we overcame out once in a century pandemic, and the worst economic crisis since the great depression. we protected and preserved our democracy and we revitalised and strengthened our alliances around the world. it's been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your president and while it's been my intention to seek reelection i believe it's in the best interest of my party and my country for me to stand down and 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. for now i want to trust my deepest gratitude to those who have worked so hard to see me reelected, i would like to thank kamala harris for being an external partner and all of this hard work. and let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the american people. for the faith your trust in me. wejust

american people. for the faith your trust in me. we just have to remember we are the united states of america. we havejust had a statement and again posted on ex from the former uk foreign secretary james cleverley. he thanked joe biden for being a great friend to the uk, he said it was a pleasure meeting president biden as foreign secretary on his visits to the uk, especially on signing the book of condolence for her majesty the late queen. thank you for defending democracy around the world. we've already heard that donald trump has appeared on the cnn network and he's saying that he believed kamala harris will be easier to beat then joe biden was. we've also heard that joe biden was. we've also heard that joe biden was. we've also heard that joe biden has endorsed kamala harris

as the nominee that he would want to see succeed. but again, looking at twitter, here's what donald trump has posted on his feed. crooked joe biden wasn't fit to run for president and certainly is not fit to serve and never was. so that's the donald trump tweet that just so that's the donald trump tweet thatjust has been posted. let's

speak to democrat congressman, thank you very much forjoining us here on bbc news. what's your reaction to joe biden�*s decision not to continue in the presidential race? j joe biden's decision not to continue in the presidential race?— in the presidential race? i respect that, i think _ in the presidential race? i respect that, i think he's _ in the presidential race? i respect that, i think he's going _ in the presidential race? i respect that, i think he's going to - in the presidential race? i respect that, i think he's going to see - in the presidential race? i respect that, i think he's going to see a l that, i think he's going to see a nation very gratefulfor that, i think he's going to see a nation very grateful for his long service and you know, he's accomplished in four years what many presidents haven't accomplished and eight, in regard to reviving our semiconductor industry, having a bipartisan infrastructure deal, improving our health care system and then putting the first laws in place regarding gun control in decades. it's a game on for the presidency at this point. i think donald trump's last tweet that you just read shows how unhinged he has become due to this decision by presidentjoe biden, and i look forward to the debate the kamala harris and donald trump have. it's not going to be the same as the last one. you trump have. it's not going to be the same as the last one.— same as the last one. you say that --eole same as the last one. you say that peeple will — same as the last one. you say that people will remember _ same as the last one. you say that people will remember what - same as the last one. you say that people will remember what he - people will remember what he achieved, but of course the republicans are going to make capital on this. you don't have a

nominee for the presidency, for the presidential race at the moment. surely itjust looks like your party is in disarray. surely itjust looks like your party is in disarray-— is in disarray. well i think that we are in transition. _ is in disarray. well i think that we are in transition. the _ is in disarray. well i think that we are in transition. the democraticl are in transition. the democratic national convention officially will announce the nominee in chicago, i'm currently in chicago so this is going to be one of the most dramatic and interesting conventions in a long time. and coming out of it, we're going to be unified. i can already sense the tremendous energy from democratic activists, my phone has lit up with text messages from here and yonder, basically saying, you know, we are ready to fight, we are ready to win the presidency. who are ready to win the presidency. who do ou are ready to win the presidency. who do you believe _ are ready to win the presidency. who do you believe will be that nominee? we already know thatjoe biden has expressed his thanks for all that kamala harris has done as his partner and everything he believes he's achieved, but how likely is it

that the party will want her, and who would be her running mate was i don't know who the running mate would be, buti don't know who the running mate would be, but i think kamala harris would be, but i think kamala harris would be, but i think kamala harris would be among the most formidable candidates for various reasons. hat candidates for various reasons. not least of candidates for various reasons. ljrrt least of which he is the sitting vice president and she is very well known to party activists. all that being said, i think that at this point, you know, donald trump is going to have to answer for some very specific policy issues that the american people feel very concerned about, for instance putting in national abortion ban in place. or you know, relitigating the results of the 2020 election and then having a grievance list and going after political opponents as he has promised to do. the american people want us to look forward, not backward and so that's why i think the ticket coming from the

democratic national convention, a forward facing ticket is going to be victorious. but forward facing ticket is going to be victorious. �* . ., victorious. but at the moment, it looks like your — victorious. but at the moment, it looks like your party _ victorious. but at the moment, it looks like your party is _ victorious. but at the moment, it looks like your party is on - victorious. but at the moment, it looks like your party is on the - victorious. but at the moment, it. looks like your party is on the back foot, the republicans are the front foot, the republicans are the front foot, they've got donald trump in place, he's already saying that kamala harris will be an easier opponent. surely, this should have happened sooner ifjoe biden was going to drop out, there were a growing number of people in your party who were saying that. better late than never, _ party who were saying that. better late than never, right? _ party who were saying that. better late than never, right? but - party who were saying that. better late than never, right? but that, i late than never, right? but that, that's quite _ late than never, right? but that, that's quite a — late than never, right? but that, that's quite a slight _ late than never, right? but that, that's quite a slight indictment l late than never, right? but that, | that's quite a slight indictment of the situation, better late than never? ., �* , never? joe biden deserved the time and the room. _ never? joe biden deserved the time and the room, the _ never? joe biden deserved the time and the room, the respect - never? joe biden deserved the time and the room, the respect and - never? joe biden deserved the time and the room, the respect and the i and the room, the respect and the privacy to make this decision and he ultimately has made his decision and i think that at this point, we are set up to select a ticket that is going to be victorious. remember,

donald trump has run againstjoe biden singularly for the last, you know, for years essentially. and i think that he has not had to answer for the specific policy positions that he has espoused and now he's be forced to do so. that's going to be problematic for him and i think this is going to go down to the benefit of democrats.— of democrats. surely the lawyers will have a _ of democrats. surely the lawyers will have a field _ of democrats. surely the lawyers will have a field day _ of democrats. surely the lawyers will have a field day with - of democrats. surely the lawyers will have a field day with this, . of democrats. surely the lawyers| will have a field day with this, but joe biden in the primaries took more than 14 million votes. how can you just set that aside and replaced him with someone else who didn't win those quotes? l with someone else who didn't win those quotes?— those quotes? i think it's, joe biden himself _ those quotes? i think it's, joe biden himself who has - those quotes? i think it's, joe biden himself who has madel those quotes? i think it's, joe i biden himself who has made this decision, he has relinquished basically his delegates to choose as they wish, and that is allowed. and so now they will get to decide who they want as their nominee. it's a little bit of an unprecedented

situation, that said i can't tell you how grateful people are forjoe biden and all of his service, his decision today to kind of open up the process and the energy and enthusiasm is sky this moment. just heafina enthusiasm is sky this moment. just hearing that — enthusiasm is sky this moment. just hearing that the speaker house, mike johnson, republican of course from louisiana, is saying biden must resign as president immediately. i've got no more information than that, but how likely is it that the republicans will get their way and see him out of office sooner than november?— see him out of office sooner than november? , , ., �*, ., november? impossible. that's not coin: november? impossible. that's not auoin to november? impossible. that's not going to happen- _ november? impossible. that's not going to happen- i— november? impossible. that's not going to happen. i don't _ november? impossible. that's not going to happen. i don't think- november? impossible. that's not going to happen. i don't think it's. going to happen. i don't think it's going to happen. i don't think it's going to happen. i don't think it's going to happen, i think this is just politics. at this point, joe biden is going to serve out the remainder of his term, his administration is ably overseeing affairs right now, all that being said, separately there's going to be

a nominating contest and we're going to have our convention here in chicago in four weeks and it will be most watch television. tell chicago in four weeks and it will be most watch television.— chicago in four weeks and it will be most watch television. tell us what ou know most watch television. tell us what you know about _ most watch television. tell us what you know about what _ most watch television. tell us what you know about what happened - you know about what happened overnight. on saturday, joe biden and his supporters were all saying, no, he's going to continue come he's going to be back on the campaign trail on monday having recovered sufficiently from covid which had seen him isolated. this afternoon in washington, he advised senior staff that that wasn't the case, that he'd rethought it and he was pulling out. what has happened overnight? l rethought it and he was pulling out. what has happened overnight? i don’t what has happened overnight? i don't know. i what has happened overnight? i don't know- i think— what has happened overnight? i don't know. i think that. .. _ what has happened overnight? i don't know. i think that... i'm _ what has happened overnight? i don't know. i think that. .. i'm sure - what has happened overnight? i don't know. i think that. .. i'm sure that - know. i think that... i'm sure that there are various factors at play, as you know he had covid, i'm sure he wanted to feel better before he made any announcements or decisions. and i think that, you know, now he has come to a place where, surrounded by his family, his

closest advisers, they had decided on this path going forward. he has decided on this path. and again, i can't tell you how grateful people are to him for his five decades of service. it's not easy to do what he did, as you know. and for him to put the country about himself, is, in my view, you know, one of the best indications that he has put service above self and i think that's why he's going to go down as one of the greats. he's going to go down as one of the areats. ~ . , , , ., greats. what misgivings did you have? surely — greats. what misgivings did you have? surely it's _ greats. what misgivings did you have? surely it's ok _ greats. what misgivings did you have? surely it's ok for- greats. what misgivings did you have? surely it's ok for you - greats. what misgivings did you have? surely it's ok for you to i greats. what misgivings did you i have? surely it's ok for you to be frank about this now that he's decided to go, what misgivings did you have when he saw that poor performance in the tv debate against donald trump?— donald trump? mode, it was a bad debate tonight. _ donald trump? mode, it was a bad debate tonight. but _ donald trump? mode, it was a bad debate tonight. but on _ donald trump? mode, it was a bad debate tonight. but on the - donald trump? mode, it was a bad debate tonight. but on the other. debate tonight. but on the other hand, the biden administration even with one horrible debate night is far better then four more years of

donald trump. and i think that for a lot of us, yes, we were very, very very concerned about seeing the debate, but we also knew that donald trump is really not an option, so we just have to pull together and so, i'm so grateful that with the time and space that he had, thatjoe biden came to a decision and now we are in a new day and we have to move forward. ~ ., , , forward. we say donald trump is not an 0 tion forward. we say donald trump is not an option but — forward. we say donald trump is not an option but clearly _ forward. we say donald trump is not an option but clearly millions - forward. we say donald trump is not an option but clearly millions of- an option but clearly millions of people believe he is or the polls say that he is doing extremely well. he's already got the nomination and now how likely is it do you think that we are going to see legal challenges in some states where the winner is going to be replaced by someone who didn't stand on the ticket before now? {lilly someone who didn't stand on the ticket before now?— someone who didn't stand on the ticket before now? oh i'm sure that the trump folks _ ticket before now? oh i'm sure that the trump folks will _ ticket before now? oh i'm sure that the trump folks will do _ ticket before now? oh i'm sure that the trump folks will do everything i

the trump folks will do everything they can to you know, prevent another candidate from replacing joe biden, but all that being said, remember, donald trump has done well, vis—a—visjoe biden. if you have a different candidate, that matchup looks very different. and the choices become very different. and then people have to look very closely at what is the agenda of each. and you know, ijust think, for instance, when a knock on doors, when i meet with constituents in my own district, they are horrified at the thought of a national abortion ban. they don't agree withjd vance who said that he, quote unquote, doesn't care about ukraine. that donald trump would for instance give a tie want to try to come of those types of positions or so outside the mainstream i think that now they're going to have the answer for them. call your colours to the mast for

us, who would you like to see furrier running mate, you knew i was going to ask you this, congressman. who would you like to see on the ticket? l who would you like to see on the ticket? ., �* ~ ., �* , of ticket? i don't know, i'mjust... of ticket? i don't know, i'm 'ust... of course you— ticket? i don't know, i'm 'ust... of course you math ticket? i don't know, i'm 'ust... of course you must know, _ ticket? i don't know, i'mjust... of course you must know, there - ticket? i don't know, i'mjust... of. course you must know, there should have been maneuverings that you committed. l have been maneuverings that you committed-— have been maneuverings that you committed. ~ ., ., ., , committed. i know we have a deep bench of very _ committed. i know we have a deep bench of very highly _ committed. i know we have a deep bench of very highly qualified - bench of very highly qualified candidates, i've gotten tax just in the last one hour saying please ask this person to announce, please ask that other person to announce, who is going to be the vp vice presidential candidate, tell this person to do x, y, or receive. and i think there's a lot of excitement at this moment and i think this democratic process is a little messy but it's the best process we got and i can't wait to see what emerges. tell us a little bit more about what you believe that process is going to become of them. in some respects as

you say, it's massive, but it's also not what we're used to sing, we're not what we're used to sing, we're not used to seeing a sitting president who still has the right, the constitutional rights to pursue a tech second term in office, to throw in the towel and say it's throw in the towel and say its number for me, throw in the towel and say it's numberfor me, i need to hand over to someone else. so number for me, i need to hand over to someone else-— to someone else. so what is that rocess? to someone else. so what is that process? that's _ to someone else. so what is that process? that's a _ to someone else. so what is that process? that's a good _ to someone else. so what is thatj process? that's a good question, to someone else. so what is that - process? that's a good question, and we are all kind of building this plane as we are flying it. that's it, isn't that — plane as we are flying it. that's it, isn't that going _ plane as we are flying it. that's it, isn't that going to _ plane as we are flying it. that's it, isn't that going to become l plane as we are flying it. that's it, isn't that going to become a j it, isn't that going to become a sorry to interrupt you but i'm interested in the analogy in a moment. but surely that's going to be of concern to voters, that you don't really know what that process is and we are only a few weeks out from your convention.— from your convention. i think that... hears, _ from your convention. i think that... hears, if— from your convention. i think that... hears, if i _ from your convention. i think that... hears, ifi have- from your convention. i think that... hears, ifi have to - from your convention. i think that... hears, ifi have to be| from your convention. i think- that... hears, ifi have to be super that... hears, if i have to be super honest with you and your viewers. please do. i honest with you and your viewers. please do-— please do. i think the relief of

knowin: please do. i think the relief of knowing the _ please do. i think the relief of knowing the way _ please do. i think the relief of knowing the way forward - please do. i think the relief of knowing the way forward is i please do. i think the relief of knowing the way forward is at | please do. i think the relief of - knowing the way forward is at this moment, the fact that we are possibly going to have an open convention, ora possibly going to have an open convention, or a situation where delegates will be able to choose, i think really gets people fired up in a way that they were not just two hours ago. and i think people are willing to deal with a little bit of uncertainty, try to figure out what the process is going forward, we're going to figure it out, it's going to be fair, but the question is as i see it, is, you know, who is going to be best positioned to present the stark choices between the democratic party platform so to speak, and the republican one in donald trump? and that's what delegates are really going to be asking of the candidates, or of themselves and the candidates. and that's an exciting question right now because i think

that folks know that this is winnable, this campaign is winnable and they want to see us put our best foot forward right now. it’s foot forward right now. it's quite obvious that _ foot forward right now. it's quite obvious that a _ foot forward right now. it's quite obvious that a lot _ foot forward right now. it's quite obvious that a lot of _ foot forward right now. it's quite obvious that a lot of people - foot forward right now. it's quite obvious that a lot of people are i obvious that a lot of people are trying to get a hold of you, congressman. thank you very much indeed, we'll let you get on with your correspondence, thank you very much for talking to us here on bbc news. if you'vejustjoined us, the story that's unfolding his reaction to joe story that's unfolding his reaction tojoe biden's decision not to continue in the presidential race for 202a. continue in the presidential race for2024. let's continue in the presidential race for 202a. let's speak again to our correspondent in washington, dc, ione wells. let's backtrack a bit for people who have onlyjustjoined us. and a reminder so far of what we know, and how it was reported. melt. know, and how it was reported. well, a lot has changed _ know, and how it was reported. well, a lot has changed even _ know, and how it was reported. well, a lot has changed even in _ know, and how it was reported. ell a lot has changed even in the last hour. firstly, this dramatic resignation statement as the democratic law nominee ofjoe biden

released as a written statement where he said, he talked a little bit about his record as president of the united states, he talked about things he was proud of like having a strong economy, like lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, but went on to say that he felt while it'd been the greatest honour of his life to serve as president, he believed it was in the best interest of the party and the country for him to then step aside. thenjust sort of country for him to then step aside. then just sort of moments later, he came out endorsing his vice president kamala harris to be his replacement as the democratic nominee for the presidential race in november, now what happens next is still quite unclear because the democratic party were essentially preparing for a virtual vote to officially nominate him as the candidate in the first week of august. i think what will be happening now is there will be a lot of rallying around from senior democrats, trying to get unity, trying to get people to come together and show that after weeks and weeks and weeks of fallout,

disunity, they can now be united and there will be lots of people i'm sure making phone calls right the second trying to get delegates to back kamala harris, that choice of president biden. now, if that virtual vote goes ahead in the first week of august and if, harris is selected by a majority, then in theory she would become the candidate. if that vote doesn't go ahead or if there is no majority in ahead or if there is no majority in a virtual vote, it could lead to a much more unprecedented situation, and open convention, essentially people able to vote for who they want at that democratic convention in chicago later in august, if that happens, i think as you mentioned there, there is more potential i think for this to play into the hands of the former president trump in particular who was already trying to paint this as more chaos from the democrat party, he is put out a statement on truth social saying that cook could do itjoe biden was not fit to run for president, we've

got the speaker of the house, speaker mikejohnson who has said, i think this is an argument we'll hear from a lot of republicans, this unprecedented juncture in american history we must be clear about what just happened. he goes on to say the democrat party forced the democratic nominee off the ballotjust over 100 days from the election, having invalidated the votes of more than 14 invalidated the votes of more than 1a million people who voted forjoe biden to be the nominee, he goes on to say that this is in quote marks, a party of democracy. he's trying to make the point that this is a very democratic, i think that's an argument we will hear multiple republican politicians make over the next couple of days or weeks. this is kind of in the democrat's interest to try and show a degree of unity, the question will be can they or delay as they say get behind kamala harris, do enough delegates decide to vote for her, does that vote go ahead in the first week of august as the party was plenty, if so this could all be done and dusted pretty quickly, if it doesn't and this continues to stretch out until the end of august where the

democratic convention takes place, i think the party is in a situation of turmoilfor weeks, think the party is in a situation of turmoilforweeks, really, to think the party is in a situation of turmoilfor weeks, really, to come. yes, and that is what the trump campaign is going to try to capitalise on. this is a party they can't even decide what it wants to put forward as its candidate. we were hearing a few minutes ago from a democratic congressman that this is building a plane in flight, that's how he described it, it isn't entirely clear what the mechanism is going to be to choose a replacement. that's right, and as i've outlined, there are potentially different mechanisms that could be used know over the next couple of weeks. there was for anyone just watching now, initially plans for this kind of virtual vote to officially select the presidential candidate in the first week of august. if that virtual vote still goes ahead, then it could be, if a majority is kind of behind one candidate, that there is new for by the start of august.

as i mentioned already, i think what will be happening right now behind closed doors all the sort of allies around joe biden, comely harris, will be ringing around to try and get all the delegates to back her because that would make this process a lot more straightforward. what's not going to be straightforward is a lot of delegates as i can actually, you know what, i don't want to vote for kamala harris just because president biden is building two, i feel like my right has been taken away from me. some feel she has been imposed on the party, if that happens with it could lead to a much more open debate among the democrat party potentially even as i mentioned an open convention in chicago where delegates are kind of voting for whoever they see fit to be the next candidate. i think one of their big challenges and i've been saying this a lot, but i'll keep saying it again, is that parties that are not united often struggle to win electoral support, i think one of the things that will be a big concern at the moment among senior democrats, among the present�*s inner circle as well, if this disunity continues for weeks

and weeks, not only does it play into the republican party's hands, being able to paint this as a party can't even decide who their presidential candidate is going to be, it also gives an to become public of disunity and chaos, party that can't make his mind up. that is a challenge as well because one of the things that's interesting in the us system, statistically there are more democrats registered then there are republicans in this country. and yet one of the challenges was always particularly with these concerns about president biden's health, fitness for office is put the democrats really inspire democratic voters to go out and vote for them, could they inspire them to turn up at the ballot box and turn out. that is something, when parties are disunity, when there isn't consensus around a leader, when there is a perception of infighting, that is something that political parties not just here in the us, something that affects parties around the world when this kind of thing happens so i think that is something that will be

front and centre of democratic politicians and's minds. lane front and centre of democratic politicians and's minds. lone wells, thank ou politicians and's minds. lone wells, thank you so _ politicians and's minds. lone wells, thank you so much _ politicians and's minds. lone wells, thank you so much for— politicians and's minds. lone wells, thank you so much for the - politicians and's minds. lone wells, | thank you so much for the moment. politicians and's minds. lone wells, - thank you so much for the moment. we will speak to you more in the next few yards, but for the moment, thank you very much. our correspondent in washington, dc. mary march is a democratic strategist. what is your reaction tojoe biden's decision? not a surprise, frankly you could see it was leading to this, as i've said on previous programmes on the bbc, one of the things to look for was tomorrow monday, when all 213 democrats in the house and 51 senators were going to be in washington, dc. so i think the decision today assured that there wouldn't be any more defections because it could have become a tsunami is necessary. credit tojoe biden was the one person who could not only defeat donald trump in 2020, but navigate the united states and the world out of coven, saving millions of lives, when a million people died under donald trump and put the economy back together with the best economy in the world, we are holding up the world economy and

give him credit for all that. not only did he graciously and graciously set aside today, he also endorsed kamala harris and that will send a big message to all democrats, and it will also when you look at it, the people who will support kamala harris now first and foremost, black voters, and women. that is the base of the democratic party. the democratic party is unified in defeating donald trump. in the two main forces that were always going to do that, were black voters and women and especially on abortion rights, they are all going to support kamala harris. in terms of the virtual nomination, that may not be necessary because ohio change their rules again. there was simply to getjoe biden or whomever the nominee is on the ballot in ohio as state democrats will not win, but what you will see is kamala harris emerging as the person everybody expects to be the nominee, there may be an "at the convention, where

delegates are free to vote for her if someone else challenges are, they can vote for them as well. but i think what you're going to see is a very quick coalescing around kamala harris going into the convention in a few weeks in chicago and that will only make her stronger and going through that, because the delegates... through that, because the delegates. . ._ through that, because the deleuates... ., , , delegates... marianne, sorry, but wh was delegates... marianne, sorry, but why was it — delegates... marianne, sorry, but why was it left — delegates... marianne, sorry, but why was it left so _ delegates... marianne, sorry, but why was it left so late _ delegates... marianne, sorry, but why was it left so late when - delegates... marianne, sorry, but why was it left so late when so . delegates... marianne, sorry, but. why was it left so late when so many donors were starting to worry, so many members of the party were starting to worry? why leave it so late? and put the party on the back foot? l late? and put the party on the back foot? ~ ., ., foot? i think we are on the front foot? i think we are on the front foot now- _ foot? i think we are on the front foot now. look, _ foot? i think we are on the front foot now. look, we... _ foot? i think we are on the front foot now. look, we... you - foot? i think we are on the front foot now. look, we... you don'tj foot? i think we are on the front - foot now. look, we... you don't have a candidate. — foot now. look, we... you don't have a candidate, we've _ foot now. look, we... you don't have a candidate, we've already _ foot now. look, we... you don't have a candidate, we've already seen - a candidate, we've already seen donald trump as my former rivals backing him and he's got the official nomination for the republicans, they are way ahead of you. republicans, they are way ahead of ou. . , ., ., , ., you. yeah, but he had to pick a new vice president _ you. yeah, but he had to pick a new vice president because _ you. yeah, but he had to pick a new vice president because his - you. yeah, but he had to pick a new vice president because his old - you. yeah, but he had to pick a new vice president because his old vice i vice president because his old vice president wouldn't support him. joe biden support kamala harris, comely harris supported joe biden, i think we're going to get on a front foot very quickly and up to the races. it

would have been nice had a bit less time, but giovanni deserve the time he took to make this very important decision, it's the first decision and 56 years like this that it is ever happen. so i think the delegates at the convention, this is very important, they were all sent there by voters in their states and congressional districts, to support the biden harris ticket. it's going to be hard to imagine that many, if any, delegates are going to depart from the harris part of the biting harris ticket.— harris ticket. marianne marsh, democratic — harris ticket. marianne marsh, democratic strategist, - harris ticket. marianne marsh, democratic strategist, we - harris ticket. marianne marsh, i democratic strategist, we really appreciate you talking to us on bbc news. as we report on this breaking story asjoe biden decides to step down as the democrat candidate. you're watching bbc news, i'm martin troxel. let's recap this developing story. us presidentjoe biden has

announced he will end his candidacy for reelection saying it is in the best interest of my party and the country. it comes four months before americans go to the polls of course, upending the race for the white house, and it follows weeks of intense pressure from fellow democrats after a faltering debate performance on, against the republican donald trump, on tv, at the end ofjune. following the announcement on sunday evening, president biden gave his endorsement in the presidential race to vice president kamala harris. in a letter posted to his social media account, he said it had been the greatest honour of his life to serve as president. it says... my fellow americans, over the past three years, we've made great progress as a nation. today, america has the strongest economy in the world. we've made historic investments and rebuilding our nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in

expanding affordable health