Some Endorse VP Harris As New Democratic Nominee
by Hudson Kamphausen
President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he would not continue his campaign for re-election, but would instead step aside and allow a different candidate for the Democratic Party to carry the mantle.
Biden announced his decision following weeks of uncertainty and discord within his party following a debate performance against Donald Trump that left many questioning whether he could function adequately as the leader of the nation’s executive branch.
High-ranking members of his own party called for him to step aside, including several members of both the House and Senate.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden said in a written statement released to the public. “And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term.”
Biden said he would address the nation later this week and also endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s presidential candidate.
“I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” Harris said in a statement.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks about abortion access and reproductive rights at a campaign event in San Jose, Calif. on Jan. 29, 2024. Credit: Maxim Elramsisy / Shutterstock
Connecticut Democrats celebrated Biden’s decision and offered thanks for his career and term as president. Some also endorsed Harris.
Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal praised Biden as a public servant and lauded his record as a politician and president during his nearly five-decade career.
“Joe Biden is one of the greatest, most consequential presidents in American history,” Blumenthal said. “He was the compassionate, courageous leader our country desperately needed during a time of crisis. Over the last four years, he has overseen the passage of immensely impactful laws that will benefit generations of Americans.”
Murphy added another dimension to his statement on the president, emphasizing the weight of the imminent November election.
“Joe Biden has always put his country first. He knows the risk Donald Trump poses to our democracy, mandating that our number-one priority must be defeating Trump this fall,” Murphy said. “I know this decision was agonizing for him, but once again, his love of country shines through. A nation turns its grateful eyes to Joe Biden for his world-changing service and his constant selflessness.”
On the X social media platform, Murphy talked about Biden’s call following the Uvalde and Buffalo mass shootings, and how he took a risk and used a prime-time speech to advocate for the 2022 gun bill, despite there being little chance that it would get through Congress. It eventually passed. He said Biden went over the speech with him line by line to ensure that he language was going to have the desired impact.
He finished the thread saying, “I’m not sure the historic 2022 gun bill would have passed without that speech,” and later in a video posted to X he said Biden would go down as one of the most effective presidents in the nation’s history and highlighted several bills Biden got through Congress – including the 2022 gun bill that Murphy said had since resulted in a 20% reduction in violent crime.
Let’s be grateful for Joe Biden, a true patriot who showed us how to put country first.
Let’s be so excited to elect our first woman president – Kamala Harris – a tough prosecutor who’s going to beat a convicted felon this November.
Murphy also made his support for Harris known on social media.
“She has the perfect combination of experience, accomplishment, and deep love of country to lead our great nation,” he said.
US Rep. Jim Himes – who was one of the members of the House who called on Biden to drop out of the presidential race – said in an interview with CBS that his and other legislators’ reaction to the news was a combination of relief, eleation, and gratitude.
“I think there is a sense now that – while we need to work on what exactly the ticket looks like, there’s obviously a lot of momentum building up behind the vice president – but elation because we are now in the hunt to win this presidency,” Himes said.
Himes also expressed gratitude to Biden for his decades of service to the nation.
Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement that under Biden the nation’s economy was strengthened, and other areas have thrived as well such as a rebuilt infrastructure. Lamont did not formally endorse Harris as the Democratic nominee for president.
“The president has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, and I believe she will be the front runner when our convention meets next month,” he said.
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said in a series of social media posts that “We can’t thank President Biden enough for his service to our country.”
She said there is no one more qualified than Harris to become the next president.
“She has been a fierce defender of civil rights, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights and reproductive rights at a time when legislatures and courts across the country are looking to roll back the clock,” Bysiewicz said.
However, she also did not formally endorse Harris.
Senate President Martin Looney and Majority Leader Bob Duff said in a statement that the world is safer because of Biden’s term as president, and Connecticut and the nation are indebted to him for his service.
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“President Biden’s selfless decision to step aside and pass the torch to Vice President Harris is indicative of his commitment to public service and dedication to the best interests of the American people,” they said.
Longtime Democratic stategist Roy Occhiogrosso, who had suggested that Biden should consider stepping aside following the June 27 debate because of the perception created by his performance, said Sunday that Biden had made the best choice.
“This was the right decision because the position President Biden was in was untenable,” Occhiogrosso said. “And he just re-energized the Democratic Party and upended the race in a good way. Good on him.”
Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam also commented on Biden’s decision and legacy:
“President Joe Biden has dedicated almost his entire adult life to public service, but his decision today may be one of his greatest acts of service,” Arulampalam said in a statement. “He showed a deeply divided nation that it’s still possible to put people over politics, and to fight for the fabric of our democracy. Now, it is time for the rest of our country to come together and show that we can unify to save our democracy.”