Afrigather 1 of three | US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff view Fourth of July fireworks from the Truman Balcony of the White Home in Washington, DC on Thursday, July 4, 2024. File Picture by Tierney L. Cross/UPI | License Picture
July 21 (UPI) — After dropping out of the 2024 election, President Joe Biden has formally endorsed his vice chairman, Kamala Harris, as his choose to obtain his endorsement to grow to be the Democratic presidential nominee.
“Immediately I wish to provide my full help and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our get together this 12 months. Democrats – it is time to come collectively and beat Trump. Let’s do that,” Biden mentioned in a press release on X.
Biden mentioned that his first determination because the get together nominee in 2020 was to choose Harris as his vice chairman, which he known as “the most effective determination” he has made.
His endorsement of his V.P. is not any shock, particularly after thanking her for her help of him in his determination to drop out of the race moments earlier.
Democratic lawmakers like Rep. Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands started rallying for the vice chairman moments after the announcement was made.
Rep. James Clyburn, D-SC mentioned he was “all in” for Biden throughout an interview with the TODAY present on July 12, however mentioned in the identical dialog he would “completely” help Harris if it got here to that. Sunday, it did. Clyburn mentioned he helps Biden’s determination to endorse Harris.
“I’ve had the dignity and privilege of Calling President Joe Biden a buddy for a few years. Once I endorsed then-candidate Biden in 2020, I famous how I may consider nobody with the integrity and no another dedicated to the elemental ideas that type the inspiration of our nice nation than him,” Clyburn mentioned in a press release Sunday.
Clyburn cited Biden’s concentrate on well being care, t affordability of upper schooling, and infrastructures, amongst different issues, as causes he supported the president’s candidacy in 2020, and why he’ll again Harris because the 2024 nominee.
“Certainly one of President Biden’s first choices because the nominee was to pick out a operating mate that he believed possessed the values and imaginative and prescient essential to proceed this nation’s pursuit towards a ‘extra good Union.’ I echo the nice judgment he demonstrated in deciding on Vice President Harris to steer this nation alongside him, and I’m proud to observe his lead in help of her candidacy to succeed him because the Democratic Get together’s 2024 nominee for President.”
Democratic Nationwide Committee Chair Jamie Harrison, who defended Biden even after the poor debate efficiency, mentioned in a press release on X that “the American folks owe President Biden an unlimited debt of gratitude for the unparalleled progress he has delivered during the last 4 years.”
“Democrats are ready and united in our resolve to win in November. As we transfer ahead to formally choose our Get together’s nominee, our values as Democrats stay the identical – reducing prices, restoring freedom, defending the rights of all folks, and saving our democracy from the specter of dictatorship. We have now and can proceed to make this case to the American folks,” Harrison wrote.
Harrison didn’t endorse Harris or every other candidate on the time of Biden’s announcement.
Greater than 30 congressional Democrats known as on Biden to drop out after a disastrous efficiency in a debate towards Trump, however Biden stood defiant till Saturday afternoon.
Led by Vice-Presidential candidate JD Vance, who mentioned if Biden is opting out of a second time period that he ought to step down from workplace, different Republicans have adopted swimsuit, saying Biden ought to resign.
Biden mentioned in Sunday’s letter endorsing Harris that he would fulfill his remaining time on this time period to concentrate on his presidential duties, and has proven no indicators of heeding calls to resign the presidency.
Senate Minority chief Mitch McConnell, R-KY, mentioned in a press release Sunday that didn’t point out Biden by title, however criticized the administration’s first time period report on coverage points.
“For 4 years, the American folks have confronted historic inflation at house, chaos on the border, and weak management on the world stage,” McConnell mentioned. “Our nation is much less affluent and fewer safe than it was in January, 2021. We can’t afford 4 extra years of failure.”
McConnell was particularly crucial of the Biden administration’s efforts on border coverage, inflation and efforts and slowing international local weather change.
“They’re promoting open borders, greater costs, local weather radicalism, and soft-on-crime insurance policies, and the American individuals are not shopping for,” McConnell mentioned of the Democratic get together.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA, mentioned Biden’s withdrawal was emblematic of chaos and confusion inside the Democratic get together. He mentioned
“At this unprecedented juncture in American historical past, we have to be clear about what simply occurred,” Johnson mentioned in a press release. “The Democrat Get together compelled the Democrat nominee off the poll, simply over 100 days earlier than the election.
“Having invalidated the votes of greater than 14 million Individuals who chosen Joe Biden to be the Democrat nominee for president, the self-proclaimed ‘get together of democracy’ has confirmed precisely the other.”
Johnson echoed the sentiment of different Republicans who known as on Biden to step down, and claimed the get together’s effort to maneuver Biden apart thwarted the need of 14 million U.S. voters who chosen Biden to be the Democratic presidential nominee.
“If Joe Biden just isn’t match to run for President, he isn’t match to function President. He should resign the workplace instantly,” he continued. “November 5 can’t arrive quickly sufficient.”
