Now that President Joe Biden has ended his re-election bid, Ohio has until Sept. 1 to certify a modern Democratic nominee.
“Joe Biden recognizing that it’s time for a change for the good of the country is the best thing that’s ever happened,” said northeast Ohio voter Keven Blake.
Politicians on both sides of the barricade agree with Blake’s position, but for different reasons.
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, who faces one of the most closely contested congressional elections this year, thanked the president for his work.
“I thank President Biden for his years of dedicated service to the country we love — as senator, vice president and president.”
This comes two days after he became the fourth Democratic senator to ask Biden to withdraw so that “our full attention” can be focused on creating jobs and stopping a federal abortion ban.
Biden has spent the past month dealing with backlash over his impoverished debate performance, as well as issues from donors and aides.
Republican vice presidential candidate and U.S. Senator from Ohio J.D. Vance wrote on social media that “Biden was the worst president” of his life.
“Joe Biden has been the worst president of my lifetime, and Kamala Harris has been with him every step of the way. She has spent the last four years co-signing Biden’s open borders and green scam policies that have raised the cost of housing and groceries. She is responsible for all of these failures, and she has lied about Biden’s mental capacity for almost four years — burdening the nation with a president who can’t do the job.”
Just before withdrawing, Biden wrote that the president’s withdrawal would be a sign that he was not “mentally fit” to continue as commander in chief.
“It should be someone younger — like the vice president,” said voter Ewing Ivan.
Biden has endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, as his successor, and some Ohio Statehouse Democrats now support her, such as state Rep. Juanita Brent, D-Cleveland.
“We have an opportunity to support the first black woman to be a major candidate in our party that is being seriously considered,” Brent said. “It’s time for us to get organized and get focused. For a long time, the Democratic Party has been focused on trying to figure out if someone is old enough or if someone is a felon enough. Now we can just focus on how we can work together.”
Many Cleveland voters we spoke with shared that sentiment as well.
“I think Kamala is a brilliant politician,” Blake said.
Not everyone does this.
“I’m not sure our next election is going to be any good, but we have to make up our minds, right?” said voter Ken Kuehls.
Democratic delegate coordinator State Sen. Bill DeMora, D-Columbus, clarified that just having an endorsement does not mean he will automatically receive the nomination.
“With Joe Biden withdrawing, all delegates are technically free agents and can now vote for the person they think is best,” DeMora said.
The virtual roll call was supposed to be held to nominate Biden for Ohio’s ballot the first week of August ahead of the Democratic National Convention. But thanks to a modern law passed in May — due to Biden’s unrelated voting disaster in the state — Democrats have until Sept. 1 to endorse another candidate.
Even though the Democratic Party has been in chaos over the past month, DeMora said it is the right party to vote for.
“Whoever our nominee is, whether it’s vice president or whoever comes out of this process, is a much better candidate,” DeMora said. “These are not criminals, these are coherent public servants who will serve the citizens of the United States honorably and legally.”
Many other politicians on both sides of the aisle, like Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, wish Biden well for the rest of his term.
“I have known President Biden since 1995, when I joined the U.S. Senate and served with him on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Fran and I wish President Biden and the First Lady all the best during the remainder of his term and in the years ahead.”
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