1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: Afternoon. President Joe Biden has quit the US race for reelection. That, 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: of course, is not a surprise. It was inevitable. What 3 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: is a surprise is how long it's taken for him 4 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: to get there, because remember, the disastrous presidential debate with 5 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: Donald Trump was more than three weeks ago. The President 6 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: has also backed his vice president, Karmala Harris for the nomination. 7 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: David Smith is Washington bureau chief for The Guardian High David, Hello, 8 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: can she beat Trump? 9 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 2: Yes, I think it's possible. Were looks like we're heading 10 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 2: for an election that will really be very decisive about 11 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 2: the future of America. You've got an elderly white man 12 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 2: who was instrumental in overturning abortion rights and who rails 13 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 2: against immigration and has made racist comments versus someone who 14 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 2: would be the first female president in history and a 15 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 2: first black woman to be president in American history, and 16 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 2: who's been very outspoken and on reproductive freedom since the 17 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:08,200 Speaker 2: fall of Roe. Versus weighed and right now. Democrats have 18 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:13,680 Speaker 2: given themselves some momentum with this move. They were bitterly 19 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:18,320 Speaker 2: divided over Joe Biden and dithering and listless and money 20 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:23,400 Speaker 2: was drying up. But now on the first day of 21 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 2: Biden's withdrawal, there seems to be a rallying around Kamala 22 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:34,959 Speaker 2: Harris as the nominee, nearly fifty million dollars raised, and 23 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 2: lots of governors and members of Congress, and Bill and 24 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 2: Harry Clinton piling in to throw their weight behind her. 25 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 2: I think a feeling that this has upended the race 26 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 2: and given Democrats a shot at victory. But all of 27 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 2: that said, Trump probably has still a slight lead in 28 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 2: opinion polls, and what we do know based on past 29 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:04,559 Speaker 2: elections is this is going to be very very close. 30 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: Why has an Obama endorsed. 31 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 2: Her, Well, that's a good question. The Obama camps say 32 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 2: he wants to do what he did in twenty twenty, 33 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 2: which is wait for the party to make its decision 34 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:25,360 Speaker 2: and then weigh in and endorse the nominee. Some people 35 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 2: are interpreting this a great deal about It means maybe 36 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 2: Biden doesn't like Harris so much. Same for others who 37 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 2: haven't endorsed yet. Others suggest let's not overread this. You know, 38 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:41,079 Speaker 2: some people are holding back because they want at least 39 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 2: a day of tribute and respect for Joe Biden and 40 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 2: an Obama's case That's just the way he works before, 41 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:54,119 Speaker 2: you know, waiting for the party to decide the way 42 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 2: things are going. She's accumulating a lot of state party support, 43 00:02:57,360 --> 00:02:59,799 Speaker 2: so I suspect it would only be a matter of 44 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 2: time before Obama waves in. 45 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 1: What do you reckon it is that finally tipped Joe Biden. 46 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 1: I mean, he held out for three weeks and then 47 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:09,679 Speaker 1: has finally made the call. Why. 48 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:18,640 Speaker 2: My best guess is that he was shown opinion polls 49 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 2: suggesting he was very very likely heading for defeat. There's 50 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 2: even a report on the political website that he was 51 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 2: shown some polling I think on Saturday that said the 52 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 2: past victory was gone, the defeat was certain, and not 53 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 2: only would that mean him losing the White House, but 54 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 2: also it would drag down a lot of his fellow 55 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 2: Democrats in the House of Representatives and sell It could 56 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 2: have given Donald Trump completely free hand, and I think 57 00:03:56,440 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 2: Biden would believe that was a terrible thing for the country. 58 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 2: He might have also had an eye on his own legacy. 59 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 2: He did not want to go down in history as 60 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 2: a man who saved democracy in twenty twenty only to 61 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 2: then sacrifices that the altar of his own ambition in 62 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 2: twenty twenty four. So I think he may have made 63 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 2: that pragmatic choice and done the thing that so many 64 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 2: were urging him to do. And sure, I think you know, 65 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 2: part of it also was so many Democrats lining up 66 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:38,719 Speaker 2: against him, even a Barmer himself sending some signals Nancy Pelosi, 67 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 2: Chuck Schumer, and then I think we were well above 68 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:47,919 Speaker 2: thirty members of Congress at the time the decision was made. 69 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 2: I think Biden Mush also have felt, Look, even though 70 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 2: in my bones I believe I can beat Trump and 71 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 2: do this job, this is just dragging on so long. 72 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,359 Speaker 2: It's a terrible thing for the Democratic Party to be 73 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 2: so I did so that alone is a reason to 74 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:04,039 Speaker 2: pass on the torch. 75 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 1: David, Thank you very much, really appreciate it. David Smith, 76 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 1: Washington Bureau chief for The Guardian. 77 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 2: For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to 78 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:15,119 Speaker 2: news talks. It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow 79 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 2: the podcast on iHeartRadio.