Biden says only 'divine intervention' will stop him from running again in 2024

Here's what historians say would happen if Biden steps down

Biden dropping out so late would be unprecedented

At least three more House Democrats called on President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, citing his age and low approval ratings as reasons for him to step aside.

Biden, 79, has not yet announced whether he will seek a second term, but he has repeatedly said that he intends to run again. In an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos on July 5, Biden joked that only "divine intervention" could change his mind about running.

However, some Democrats are becoming increasingly concerned about Biden's electability. A recent poll found that only 38% of Americans approve of Biden's job performance, while 58% disapprove. Additionally, Biden has been criticized for his handling of the economy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine.

If Biden were to withdraw from the race, it would be unprecedented for a sitting president to drop out so late in the election cycle. The only other president to withdraw from a re-election campaign was Grover Cleveland in 1897, but he did so more than a year before the election.

If Biden were to step down, the Democratic National Committee would hold a special nominating convention to select a new candidate. The most likely candidates to replace Biden would be Vice President Kamala Harris, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Biden has said that he will make a decision about whether to run again after the midterm elections in November. However, the pressure on him to withdraw is likely to increase if the Democrats lose control of the House or Senate.