WASHINGTON – Democrats applauded President Joe Biden’s Decision to leave of the presidential race, and some were quick to say they supported his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the fresh Democratic nominee four months before the November election.
Democrats in Congress praised Biden for his accomplishments and for passing the torch to a fresh generation. Democrats for Weeks of pressure on the president to resign from the race to a catastrophic debate on 27 June This shook their belief that the president could defeat Donald J. Trump in a rematch.
“While it was my intention to run for re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country that I step down and focus solely on performing my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden wrote in a one-page letter posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Shortly after the announcement, Biden endorsed Harris in a separate social media post.
In a statement, Harris said she was honored by Biden’s endorsement and that it was her “intention to earn and win this nomination.”
“We have 107 days until election day,” she said. “Together we will fight. And together we will win.”
Clintons support Harris
Trump called him a threat to democracy and the Latest Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunityFormer President Bill Clinton and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said in a joint statement: “Now is the time to support Kamala Harris and fight for her election with everything we have.”
Former President Barack Obama said in a statement that Biden is “a patriot of the highest order.”
“I also know that Joe has never shied away from a fight,” Obama said. “For him to look at the political landscape and decide that he should pass the torch to a new candidate is certainly one of the most difficult decisions of his life.”
While Obama did not endorse Harris, he said he had “extraordinary confidence that the leadership of our party will be able to put in place a process that will produce an outstanding candidate.”
Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement that she supports Harris and is convinced the vice president can beat Trump.
“She is exactly the woman we need to prosecute the case against Donald Trump, save American democracy, lead the fight to restore abortion rights, and build an economy that puts working people – not billionaires – first,” Murray said. “I will do everything I can to elect Kamala Harris as our next president.”
If Harris is officially nominated at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in a month, she would be the first black woman and the first person of South Asian descent to be nominated as a presidential candidate by a major party.
Florida Democratic Representative Kathy Castor said in a statement that she has full confidence in Harris as the fresh Democratic presidential candidate.
“There is a lot at stake in this election,” she said. “She is a fighter who is fighting for reproductive freedoms, civil rights, lower costs for families and supporting all Americans.”
Republicans called on Biden to resign from office, arguing that his withdrawal from the race made him unfit to remain in the Oval Office.
“If Joe Biden is not fit to run for president, he is not fit to serve as president,” House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana wrote on X.
Republican Steve Daines of Montana, chairman of the Senate Republican campaign team, said in a statement that he was calling on Biden to resign because he had “concerns about the national security of our country.”
“Being president is the toughest job in the world, and I no longer have confidence that Joe Biden can effectively perform his duties as commander in chief,” Daines said.
Trump released a highly critical statement on his social media site Truth Social.
“The fraudulent Joe Biden was not fit to run for president and is certainly not fit to hold the office – and never was!” he wrote.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell did not call for Biden’s resignation as president, but criticized his performance in a brief written statement.
“For four years, the American people have faced historic inflation at home, chaos at the border, and weak leadership on the world stage,” the Kentucky Republican wrote. “Our nation is less prosperous and less secure than it was in January 2021. We cannot afford another four years of failure.”
“The country is above the ego”
Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett, the first Democrat in Congress to call for Biden’s resignation, said in a statement that the president “puts the country before his ego in a way that Donald Trump never could.”
He added that while Harris is “clearly the leading candidate, we should be open to all talented individuals who wish to be considered.”
Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse said in a statement that he welcomed Biden’s decision to end his campaign for a second term.
“Nobody should underestimate how hard that was,” he said.
Both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised the president for his accomplishments, but neither expressed support for Harris.
“Joe Biden was not only a great president and a great legislator, but he was also a truly amazing human being,” Schumer said. “His decision was obviously not easy, but he has once again put his country, his party and our future first.”
Democratic Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, who earlier this month expressed fears that Trump could win a landslide victory, thanked Biden in a social media post for her resignation because he had “given us the chance to defeat Donald Trump and give our children the future they deserve.”
Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen said in a statement that Biden has “always put our country first and with this decision he has once again done what he believes is best for the future of our democracy.”
Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia, said in a statement that he respected Biden’s decision to resign.
“While there must be an orderly process and the decision ultimately rests in the hands of the DNC delegates, I believe Vice President Harris has the experience, energy and determination to lead our nation,” he said.
Minnesota Senator Tina Smith said in a statement that she “proudly and enthusiastically” supports Harris, “who I believe is the best person right now to unite the Democratic Party and lead us to victory.”
“The work is not done,” Smith said. “In fact, it is just beginning.”
