US President Joe Biden has withdrawn  from the presidential race, saying it’s “in the best interest of his party and the country”.

Biden however says he will  stay on for the final six months of his term.  Biden has endorsed Kamala Harris, his vice-president, to be the new Democratic nominee.

An “overwhelming majority” of the Democratic Party’s 57 state party leaders  voted to back Kamala Harris to replace Joe Biden as the nominee.

81 year old Biden  faced increasing calls to step aside since a faltering debate performance against Trump last month. In his message, Former US president Barack Obama has called  Biden a ‘patriot of the highest order’ for his decision to step aside in the 2024 presidential race.

Biden is hoped to  speak at the Democratic convention in Chicago.