Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) said in an interview with NewsNation on Sunday that President Joe Biden decided to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race in part because he was concerned about his health, and that Biden’s COVID-19 diagnosis was “a wake-up call that there are other health challenges ahead,” and that Biden decided it would be best to “use my energy, experience and knowledge” to finish out the next six months of his presidency strong.
Garamendi said the turning point in Biden’s decision was “basically two things.” “First of all, his health. He understands his health and, of course, his wife, Jill, understands the situation. And I think he very carefully evaluated his health, the situation, the work ahead of him on the campaign trail and the work ahead of him to finish out his four years in office. I think that’s one factor. The other factor is that he’s put together a great team. His backup quarterback, Kamala Harris, is an extraordinary woman and he knew she could carry on that legacy of legislative and international leadership.”
He then added, “I think he’s very carefully analyzed Jill and probably his entire family and his own health. COVID-19 is a blow to everybody. I think that’s what happened with President Biden. It took a huge toll, but I think it was also a wake-up call for other health issues that were coming his way. So I think he’s taken all of that into consideration with Jill and he’s come to the decision that it’s in the best interest of him, the Democratic Party and the country to use his own energy, experience and knowledge at home and abroad to finish off the next six months of his presidency very strongly.”
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