West Virginia Democratic Party officials react to Biden ending 2024 candidacy
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CHARLESTON -- Leaders of the West Virginia Democratic Party reacted Sunday to President Joe Biden withdrawing in the race for a second four-year term after remaining defiant into the weekend that he still had a pathway to defeat former Republican President Donald Trump.
In a letter Sunday afternoon, Biden withdrew as the soon-to-be nominee of the Democratic Party for president following a growing number of party leaders and officials calling for the former U.S. senator and vice president to step aside over concerns about his age and physical ability to do the job. Biden said he would address the American people later this week.
"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president," Biden wrote. "And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term."
Biden, who turns 82 in November, won the 2020 presidential election and defeated then-President Trump, preventing him from taking office for a second term.
Concerns about Biden's age have plagued him throughout the last more than three years, but those concerns accelerated following a June debate between Biden and Trump.
In a post on social media, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. Harris, the former senator from California and a former prosecutor, would be the first black woman and first Asian woman if elected president in November.
"My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my vice president. And it's been the best decision I've made," Biden said. "Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats, it's time to come together and beat Trump. Let's do this."
As early as Sunday morning, the Biden/Harris campaign had sent an email touting support for Biden to stay in the race from state party chairs in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada.
Delegate Mike Pushkin, the chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party, released a statement Sunday afternoon thanking Biden for his service to the nation.
"President Joe Biden's decision to step away from his re-election campaign demonstrates a level of integrity and respect for democracy that is all too rare in today's political climate," said Pushkin, D-Kanawha.
"Some leaders, upon attaining power, will do anything to keep it, including ignoring election results, fabricating fraudulent schemes, suborning others to violate their oaths of office, and ignoring the Constitution," Pushkin continued, contrasting Trump with Biden. "President Biden did not do any of those things. He has consistently upheld the values and principles that are the foundation of our great nation."
Several major Democratic Party leaders have publicly or privately called on Biden to step aside from the campaign, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. While no longer a leader in the Democratic Party, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin took to the Sunday morning political shows calling on Biden to "pass the torch."
"I came to the decision with a heavy heart that I think it's time to pass the torch to a new generation," said Manchin, I-W.Va., on CNN'S "State of the Union" with host Jake Tapper. "I've been to statewide campaigns many times, it's an unbelievable challenge to anybody...physically, mentally, every way, shape and form. And right now, the country and the world needs our President Joe Biden..."
Late last week, Delegate Kayla Young called on Biden to step aside as the party's potential presidential nominee. Young was chair of the West Virginia Democratic Party's annual convention in Charleston in June where Young and others were elected as delegates to the Democratic National Convention to be held in Aug. 19-22 in Chicago.
"In this historic moment, I'm thankful to President Biden for putting country first in his courageous decision to not accept the nomination," said Young, D-Kanawha, by text message Sunday afternoon.
While Biden endorsed Harris, that is no guarantee Harris will be the party's presidential nominee after the Democratic National Convention concludes. Biden has 3,896 pledged delegates out of about 4,700 who could be free to support other potential candidates in next month's convention. There has been no formal nomination of Biden for president by the Democratic Party.
According to DNC rules as reported by Politico, any potential nominee who can collect signatures from between 300 and 600 delegates can be considered, though other rules limit the number of delegates a single potential nominee can have from one state to 50. Based on those and other rules, Politico determined the number of potential nominees could be about 15.
Last week, delegates to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee nominated Trump as their presidential candidate for a third time, with U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, as Trump's vice presidential running mate. Pushkin said with Biden's decision, the Democratic Party can now rally behind someone who can beat Trump in November.
"With this decision, we can set these distractions aside and focus on the very real threat that former President Donald Trump's re-election would pose to our country and the world," Pushkin said. "It is imperative that we remain vigilant and committed to preserving our democracy and protecting the future for all Americans."
Steven Allen Adams can be reached at sadams@newsandsentinel.com.