Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race on Sunday after weeks of pressure from other Democrats to step down after his disastrous debate in late June.
Democratic leaders quickly heaped praise on the president for his lifetime of service.
Biden’s “outstanding track record gave President Biden every right to run for re-election and finish the job he started”, wrote Barack Obama. “Joe understands better than anyone the stakes in this election – how everything he has fought for throughout his life, and everything that the Democratic party stands for, will be at risk if we allow Donald Trump back in the White House and give Republicans control of Congress.”
The former president described the process moving forward as “uncharted waters”. But he praised the decision. “I know he wouldn’t make this decision unless he believed it was right for America,” Obama wrote. “It’s a testament to Joe Biden’s love of country – and a historic example of a genuine public servant once again putting the interests of the American people ahead of his own that future generations of leaders will do well to follow.”
Nancy Pelosi, who reportedly was one of several lawmakers nudging Biden to withdraw, spoke of her “love and gratitude” in a message following Biden’s announcement.
“President Joe Biden is a patriotic American who has always put our country first,” the former House speaker said. “His legacy of vision, values and leadership make him one of the most consequential Presidents in American history.”
Though Biden has endorsed Kamala Harris as his successor, a question is instantly emerging among Democrats: whether the party will coalesce around the vice-president to take up the baton and run in his stead, or whether the Democratic national convention should have a floor fight for the nomination.
Ronald Klain, Biden’s former chief of staff, is one of many in the first camp. “Now that the donors and electeds have pushed out the only candidate who has ever beaten Trump, it’s time to end the political fantasy games and unite behind the only veteran of a national campaign — our outstanding @vp, @KamalaHarris,” Klain wrote on X. “Let’s get real and win in November!”
Senators Mark Warner, Tammy Baldwin and others quickly offered their support for Harris in messages on Sunday, as did Bill and Hillary Clinton, ostensibly hoping to avoid a bruising floor fight in Chicago at the convention a month from now.
“We’ve lived through many ups and downs, but nothing has made us more worried for our country than the threat posed by a second Trump term,” they wrote. “He has promised to be a dictator on day one, and the recent ruling by his servile supreme court will only embolden him to further shred the constitution.”
But Cenk Uygur, founder of the Young Turks program, who ran an abortive primary campaign against Biden this year, is firmly in the latter camp.
“The rebel forces have won!” Uygur said. “We’ll have a new Democratic ticket! There is no reason why the new ticket wouldn’t instantly be the favorite over Trump. Please Democrats don’t trust leadership to pick anymore – do an open convention to pick the strongest team! … Has he been the picture of sound judgment lately? No, the delegates should pick. That’s the last vestige of democracy left.”
That contrasts with the sentiment of Black leaders at the state and local level, who view a contest against Harris as a betrayal.
“Now’s the time for us to rally around Kamala Harris and defeat Donald Trump,” said Brandon Scott, mayor of Baltimore. “Black women have saved this country time and time again. For that reason and a hundred others, there is no other – or better – option than the vice-president to unite our party and win in November.”
Jaime Harrison, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, described some of the next steps the party will take.
“In the coming days, the party will undertake a transparent and orderly process to move forward as a united Democratic party with a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump in November,” Harrison said. “This process will be governed by established rules and procedures of the party. Our delegates are prepared to take seriously their responsibility in swiftly delivering a candidate to the American people.”
Many of the strongest contenders in a contested nomination fight made statements expressing their gratitude for Biden’s service, while studiously avoiding discussion about their own potential candidacies.
“President Biden has been an extraordinary, history-making president – a leader who has fought hard for working people and delivered astonishing results for all Americans,” Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, said. “He will go down in history as one of the most impactful and selfless presidents.”
Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania, also praised Biden.
“President Biden is a patriot who has served our country honorably in the Senate, as Vice President, and as one of the most consequential presidents in modern history,” Shapiro wrote on X. “President Biden has gotten an incredible amount done to move our country forward, defend our democracy, and protect real freedom. I am proud to work by his side and am grateful for his leadership and his unwavering commitment to delivering for Pennsylvania – the Commonwealth that raised him.”
Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan said her role in the race had not changed.
“President Biden is a great public servant who knows better than anyone what it takes to defeat Donald Trump. His remarkable work to lower prescription drug costs, fix the damn roads, bring supply chains home, address climate change, and ensure America’s global leadership over decades will go down in history,” Whitmer said on X. “My job in this election will remain the same: doing everything I can to elect Democrats and stop Donald Trump, a convicted felon whose agenda of raising families’ costs, banning abortion nationwide, and abusing the power of the White House to settle his own scores is completely wrong for Michigan.
Michigan and Pennsylvania are swing states critical to Democratic chances in November. Biden had been polling poorly in swing states. Undeterred, the chairpersons of the state parties of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Georgia, and Arizona released a joint open letter endorsing Biden’s re-election bid only on Saturday.
“We understand the anxiety. But the best antidote to political anxiety is taking action,” they wrote. “You can’t wring your hands when you’re rolling up your sleeves.”
That letter underscores just how stunning Biden’s decision is.
John Ernst, a Democratic insider and former mayor of Brookhaven, Georgia – an Atlanta suburb with a purple streak – believes this resets the race for Democrats in the state. “The voter enthusiasm had been down across the board because they had been seeing the same thing,” he said. “No one wanted Trump v Biden 2.0. People are tired of the same thing.
“Joe Biden is probably going to go down in history as one of the greatest one-term presidents,” he said. “This is an ultimate personal sacrifice for the nation, to take what would be a personally anguishing decision to step aside. The party will decide in a convention like parties have done in numerous years. There’s plenty of time on the clock. This will allow the Democratic party to move forward, to show people that a new day is coming.”
Read more about Joe Biden dropping out of the 2024 election:
