WASHINGTON: An influential US Senator Joe Manchin on Sunday called for President Joe Biden to end his candidacy in the upcoming presidential race, citing growing concerns over Biden’s electability and recent polls showing a surge in support for former President Donald Trump.
Speaking on CNN, Senator Manchin, known for his bipartisan stance and close ties to Biden, expressed his decision with a heavy heart but emphasized the need to pass the torch to a new generation of Democratic leadership.
“I came to this decision with a heavy heart, but I think it’s time to pass the torch to a new generation,” Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat-leaning independent from West Virginia, said on CNN.
Manchin’s call echoes a chorus of voices within the Democratic Party urging Biden, 81, to step aside amidst signs of dwindling support and an increasingly competitive landscape against Trump.
Biden, currently recovering from Covid-19 at his Delaware home since Wednesday, has faced limited opportunities to counteract the growing political pressure, maintaining a public presence mainly through social media attacks on Trump.
The urgency intensified with a recent poll from Michigan, a critical swing state, which delivered troubling news for Biden’s campaign. The Epic-MRA poll indicated Trump leading Biden 49 percent to 42 percent, a significant shift since June when Biden held a narrower lead.
The poll also highlighted Trump’s improved favorability ratings nationally, now standing at 40 percent, boosted by a successful Republican convention and sympathy following an attempt on his life during a rally in Pennsylvania.
Amidst the speculation surrounding Biden’s future in the race, discussions have turned to potential successors, with Vice President Kamala Harris emerging as a likely candidate, alongside other rising stars within the Democratic Party.
Senator Manchin advocated for an “open process” to determine Biden’s replacement, underscoring the party’s depth of talent and the need for a unifying figure to lead the nation forward.
Republicans, however, have signaled potential legal challenges to any late-stage change in the Democratic ticket, citing procedural hurdles and the complexities of ballot access in various states.
Mike Johnson, speaker of the House of Representatives, told CNN that Democrats would face “legal hurdles” in some states and have “a real problem.”
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Vice President Harris has drawn increasing scrutiny from both sides. The Trump campaign reportedly is already preparing lines of attack.
Even some Democrats who have been strong Biden supporters have begun carefully hedging their comments, unsure how the fraught situation might play out.
The situation has prompted cautious responses from Biden’s supporters, including Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina, a pivotal figure in Biden’s 2020 campaign.
“I support Joe Biden and he will be the nominee if he stays in the race,” Clyburn affirmed on CNN.
Asked if Biden was the best candidate to take on Trump, he replied, “I believe he is as good as they get,” but then added: “Is he the only one? No, he is not the only one.”
“I stand with him until he changes his mind.”
