In a surprising turn of events, Independent Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia has urged President Joe Biden to withdraw his bid for reelection.
This unexpected call was made during his appearance on CNN's "State Of The Union" on Sunday morning.
According to the Daily Caller, this comes in the wake of mounting pressure on Biden to step down from the race, following his debate performance against former President Trump on June 27, 2024. Manchin, who severed ties with the Democratic Party in late May, is now part of a growing chorus of 36 Congressional Democrats who have publicly voiced their desire for Biden to abandon his reelection campaign.
Manchin broke his three-week silence on the issue, explaining that he had initially allowed a week for Biden to consult with family and staff, followed by a week to assess the situation of House and Senate Democrats facing challenging races. He shared with CNN's Jake Tapper that witnessing donors desert Biden was "really challenging" for the incumbent Democrat, as "campaign finance is the mother's milk of campaigning."
Manchin expressed his concern for the President, stating, My prayers are with the health and well-being of my friend, the President. And I believe that he has a chance, an opportunity to finish the five months of his presidency with what he has always, you know, basically overseen his office whether it be as senator or as President wanting to be that uniter, bringing us together. Being able to bring peace to the Middle East. Being able to support Ukraine in the fight for freedom. And also, being able to show the whole world how the transfer of power can be done by the superpower of the world in the most respectful way.
The West Virginia senator expressed his hope for Biden to leave a lasting legacy as a great leader, but with a heavy heart, he concluded, I think its time to pass the torch to a new generation.
Manchin voiced his preference for an "open process" in selecting the Democratic Party's next presidential nominee, expressing his partiality towards Democratic Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. He praised both governors for their ability to work effectively with evenly split or completely opposite party-affiliated legislatures, stating, They havent divided their state. They havent made you pick a side and demonize the other side. Theyve brought people together.
The call for Biden's withdrawal was first made by Democratic Vermont Senator Peter Welch in a Washington Post op-ed published on July 10. He was later joined by Montana Senator Jon Tester, New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich, and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown.
The President, who tested positive for COVID-19, had to cancel a campaign event in Las Vegas. Earlier that day, Biden had suggested that he could be persuaded to step down if a "medical condition" emerged. This development adds another layer of complexity to an already tumultuous political landscape.
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