First lady Jill Biden, U.S. President Joe Biden, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff join hands as they depart a ”Reproductive Freedom Campaign Rally” at George Mason University on January 23, 2024 in Manassas, Virginia. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON — Democrats Sunday applauded President Joe Biden’s decision to bow out of the presidential race, and some quickly said they support his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the new Democratic nominee, four months before the November elections.
Congressional Democrats lauded Biden for his record and for passing the torch to a new generation. Democrats for weeks pressured the president to withdraw from the race following a disastrous June 27 debate that rattled their belief the president could defeat Donald J. Trump in a rematch.
“While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden wrote in a one-page letter he posted to X, formerly Twitter.
Shortly after the announcement, Biden endorsed Harris in a separate social media post.
In a statement, Harris said she was honored to have Biden’s endorsement and that her “intention is to earn and win this nomination.”
“We have 107 days until Election Day,” she said. “Together, we will fight. And together, we will win.”
Citing Trump as a threat to democracy and the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity, former President Bill Clinton and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said in a joint statement that “now is the time to support Kamala Harris and fight with everything we’ve got to elect her.”
Former President Barack Obama said in a statement that Biden is “a patriot of the highest order.”
“I also know Joe has never backed down from a fight,” Obama said. “For him to look at the political landscape and decide that he should pass the torch to a new nominee is surely one of the toughest in his life.”
Obama stopped short of endorsing Harris, but said he has the “extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges.”
Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, who chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriations, said in a statement that she is supportive of Harris and believes 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 help elect Kamala Harris as our next President.”
If Harris is formally nominated at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which is a month away, she would become the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to become a major party’s presidential nominee.
Florida Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor said in a statement that she has full confidence in Harris as the new Democratic nominee for president.
“There is a lot at stake in this election,” she said. “She is a fighter who stands up for reproductive freedoms, civil rights, lowering costs for families and lifting up all Americans.”
Republicans called for Biden to resign from office, arguing that because he is dropping out of the race, he is unfit to continue 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.
Montana Republican Steve Daines, who chairs the Senate GOP campaign arm, said in a statement that he is calling on Biden to resign because “of concern for our country’s national security.”
“Being President is the hardest job in the world, and I no longer have confidence that Joe Biden can effectively execute his duties as Commander-in-Chief,” Daines said.
Trump posted a highly critical statement to his social media site, Truth Social.
“Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve – And never was!” he wrote.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell did not call for Biden to step down as president, but criticized his record in a short 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 four more years of failure.”
Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas, who was the first congressional Democrat to call for Biden to step down, said in a statement that the president is “putting country over 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 Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said in a statement that he saluted Biden’s decision to end his campaign for a second term.
“Let no one underestimate how hard this was,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries both commended the president on his record, but neither gave their support to Harris.
“Joe Biden has not only been a great president and a great legislative leader but he is a truly amazing human being,” Schumer said. “His decision of course was not easy, but he once again put his country, his party, and our future first.”
Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, who earlier this month raised concerns that Trump could win in a landslide, thanked Biden in a social media post for stepping aside because it has “given us the chance to beat Donald Trump and give our children the future they deserve.”
Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen said in a statement that Biden has “always put our country first, and in making this decision, he has once again done what he thinks is best for the future of our democracy.”
Sen. Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia, said in a statement that he respected Biden’s decision to step down.
“While there has to 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 resolve to lead our nation,” he said.
Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith said in a statement that she “proudly and enthusiastically” supports Harris “whom I believe is the very best person in this moment to unify the Democratic Party and lead us forward to victory.”
“The work is not done,” Smith said. “In fact it is just beginning.”
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