COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Politicians, some with races of their own in November's election, are sounding off on President Joe Biden stepping out of the Presidential race.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And 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 letter posted to X.
Bernie Moreno, an Ohio Republican looking to unseat Sen. Sherrod Brown, said Brown and Vice President Kamala Harris were “the chief conspirators and enablers of the Biden mental decline cover up.”
“Kamala Harris is even more extreme than Joe Biden,” Moreno wrote in a statement. “Together with Sherrod Brown, they will stop at nothing to finish their radical agenda. The Democrats will scramble to change faces, but the American people know all too well the results of their policies. That's why we will defeat Sherrod Brown and Kamala Harris in November."
After announcing he was stepping away from the presidential contest, Biden endorsed Harris to become the Democratic nominee. The Democrats will hold their national convention starting on Aug. 19.
Harris, in a statement released later Sunday afternoon, thanked the President for his leadership and "decades of service to our country."
On Friday, Brown called for Biden to step out of the presidential race.
“I agree with the many Ohioans who have reached out to me,” he said in a statement. “At this critical time, our full attention must return to these important issues. I think the President should end his campaign."
On X, formerly Twitter, Brown posted the following Sunday afternoon:
"I thank President Biden for his years of committed service to the country we love — as Senator, as Vice President, and as President."
Ohio's other Senator, JD Vance, now Trump's running mate, continued the rhetoric coming out of last week's Republican convention, calling Biden "the worst president in my lifetime."
"Joe Biden has been the worst President in my lifetime and Kamala Harris has been right there with him every step of the way." Vance posted to X. "Over the last four years she co-signed Biden's open border and green scam policies that drove up the cost of housing and groceries. She owns all of these failures, and she lied for nearly four years about Biden's mental capacity--saddling the nation with a president who can't do the job."
In a statement posted to X, Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine wished Biden and his family well.
“I have known President Biden since 1995, when I entered the U.S. Senate and served with him on the Senate Judiciary Committee,” DeWine posted. “Fran and I wish President Biden and the First Lady all the best as he serves out the remainder of his term and in the years ahead.”
Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH3) said Biden's decision "demonstrates his commitment to our country's future."
"President Joe Biden has led our nation with remarkable dedication and vision, leaving an indelible mark on American history," Beatty wrote in a statement.
Beatty threw her support behind Harris to become the nominee.
"I am proud to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States as she is ready to move our party and nation forward," she wrote. "Having worked closely with her, I can attest to her being one of our nation's most effective and influential vice presidents.
"Vice President Harris’ vision for America stands in stark contrast to the extreme policies proposed by Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans," Beatty continued. "As we approach this critical election, the stakes could not be higher. We have an opportunity to defend our freedoms, protect our democratic institutions, and implement economic policies that benefit all Americans."
Donald Trump, the Republican nominee who will now face whoever is the Democratic nominee in November, posted the following statement on Truth Social:
“Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve - And never was! He only attained the position of President by lies, Fake News, and not leaving his Basement. All those around him, including his Doctor and the Media, knew that he wasn’t capable of being President, and he wasn’t - And now, look what he’s done to our Country, with millions of people coming across our Border, totally unchecked and unvetted, many from prisons, mental institutions, and record numbers of terrorists. We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage he has done very quickly. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Calls for Biden to drop out of his reelection bid started after his June 27 debate against Trump, where, at times, the 81-year-old president trailed off, gave nonsensical answers, and failed to call out many of the lies Trump told on the debate stage.
Biden said he intends to serve the remainder of his term, until Jan. 20, 2025.
