WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Democratic lawmakers hailed President Joe Biden's on Sunday not to seek reelection, praising him as putting his country and his party before himself. Republicans called on him to resign from office, saying that if he could not run for another term, office, then he's unable to serve as president.
Biden鈥檚 announcement came after more than two weeks of Democrats urging him to withdraw from the race. Nearly three dozen lawmakers had publicly called on him to end his reelection bid. Others had voiced concerns privately about what the ramifications would be for down-ballot Democrats if he remained in the race. When the president heeded those concerns, Democrats called it a selfless move.
鈥淛oe Biden has not only been a great president and a great legislative leader but he is a truly amazing human 小蓝视频. His decision of course was not easy, but he once again put his country, his party, and our future first,鈥� Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement.
Republicans have seized on Biden's poor debate performance last month to batter him as incapable of serving four more years. Now, that he's out of the presidential election, many said he should resign his office, too.
鈥淚f Joe Biden is not fit to run for President, he is not fit to serve as President. He must resign the office immediately. November 5 cannot arrive soon enough,鈥� House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement.
鈥淚f the Democratic party has deemed Joe Biden unfit to run for reelection, he鈥檚 certainly unfit to control our nuclear codes. Biden must step down from office immediately,鈥� tweeted Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn.
Biden鈥檚 former chief of staff, Ron Klain, called on Democrats to quickly unite around Vice President Kamala Harris as the natural successor to Biden, saying on social media that 鈥渋t鈥檚 time to end the political fantasy games and unite behind the only veteran of a national campaign.鈥�
鈥淟et鈥檚 get real and win in November,鈥� Klain said.
But in their initial statements, many Democrats made no mention of Harris. Some are calling for an open process in selecting the next Democratic presidential nominee.
Schumer and Sen. Dick Durbin, the top two Senate Democrats, did not offer support for Harris.
鈥淣ow the Democratic Party must unite behind a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump and keep America moving in the right direction. I will do everything in my power to help that effort,鈥� Durbin said.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas, the first House Democrat to call on Biden to step down, said 鈥渙nce again President Biden comes through for America, putting country over ego in a way that Donald Trump never could." He said that while Harris is clearly the leading candidate to replace Biden, 鈥渨e should be open to all talented individuals who wish to be considered.鈥�
Many Democrats did quickly assemble behind Harris, however.
The leaders of two of the largest Democratic House caucuses, Reps. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the left-wing Congressional Progressive Caucus and Annie Kuster, chair of the moderate New Democrat Coalition, endorsed Harris. The endorsements were part of an effort among Democrats in Congress to quickly assembly behind a candidate and try to put behind the weeks of intraparty tension that have marked the aftermath of the June 27 debate.
鈥淢illions of Americans cast their ballots for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the primary. Vice President Harris has proven time and time again that she can prosecute the case against Donald Trump and campaign vigorously for Democrats down the ballot,鈥� Jayapal said in a statement.
The Congressional Black Caucus also, through its political action committee, gave its support to Harris as the next Democratic nominee. The Black caucus had stood by Biden since the debate last month even as many other Democrats called for him to step aside.
Rep Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., warned that an open nomination process would be damaging.
鈥淎nyone musing about a romanticized free-for-all at the Democratic National Convention is living in a dangerous fantasy land and is asking for a continuation of the chaos and confusion that has consumed Washington, D.C.,鈥� he said.
At least 10 Democratic senators quickly weighed in with support for Harris, including Patty Murray of Washington, Mark Warner of Virginia, Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii.
The reaction to Biden's announcement reverberated around the county and the world.
Former President Barack Obama saluted his vice president of eight years.
"Joe Biden has been one of America鈥檚 most consequential presidents, as well as a dear friend and partner to me. Today, we鈥檝e also been reminded鈥娾�斺�奱gain鈥娾�斺�妕hat he鈥檚 a patriot of the highest order," Obama said.
Internationally, Israel鈥檚 president, Isaac Herzog, offered 鈥渉eartfelt thanks鈥� to Biden for supporting the Israeli people over his long career.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk acknowledged the difficult decision Biden had to make and said 鈥淧oland, America and the world are safer and democracy stronger鈥� because of the U.S. president.
American voters have also been anxious to hear what Biden would do as polling showed that nearly two-thirds of Democrats said Biden should withdraw from the presidential race.
David Strong, a 64-year-old retiree and Democratic voter from Denver who was on vacation in Portland, Oregon, said he was relieved that Biden was leaving the race after a debate performance he described as 鈥渟hocking and terrible.鈥�
鈥淚 thought it was the best thing to do,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 just didn鈥檛 feel like he was our best shot to beat Trump.鈥�
On Governors Island in New York Harbor, word of Biden鈥檚 announcement quickly spread among picnickers.
鈥淚 feel sad for him,鈥� said Jess Carter, 33, a software engineer and Democrat. 鈥淏ut it seems to be the right move.鈥�
鈥淚 do think it was a good decision. I wish he had done it sooner,鈥� said David Gruber, 35, a marketing consultant and Democrat from the borough of Brooklyn.
On the prospect of Harris taking Biden's place, Gruber said: 鈥淪he鈥檚 making me nervous. But if she鈥檚 the pick, I鈥檒l vote for her.鈥�
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Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri, Darlene Superville and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report from Washington, Claire Rush from Portland, Stephanie Nano from New York City.
Kevin Freking And Stephen Groves, The Associated Press
