'Patriotic thing to do': Tammy Baldwin praises Joe Biden dropping out of race, backs Kamala Harris for president
High-ranking Wisconsin Democrats on Sunday praised President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the the race and threw support to Vice President Kamala Harris to assume the top of the ticket, while Republicans cast suspicion over the way Democrats have handled the saga.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who had declined to say whether Biden should stay in the race as she faces her own tight reelection race, told reporters at a campaign event in Stoughton that Biden's decision to withdraw from the race was "the patriotic thing for him to do" and said she would back Harris.
Baldwin was joined by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts, who spoke at the event but did not take questions from reporters.
Baldwin said she's heard from many Wisconsin voters in recent weeks who "care deeply" about Biden and are "very proud of his legacy," but think it's time for him to step aside.
"I've conveyed that to the top advisers to the president in the White House, as well as to the top campaign officials. And I've continued to do that as as recently as yesterday," Baldwin said.
Asked whether other Democrats should stand down and back Harris, Baldwin deferred to a statement from Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison, who pledged to move forward with a "transparent and orderly process."
Baldwin said she would back Harris and praised her work as California's attorney general and as a U.S. senator.
"I saw her, day after day, hold powerful organizations to account, powerful individuals to account, in her role on the Senate Judiciary Committee," Baldwin said. "And I've seen her as vice president. She's prepared, and I'm very proud to endorse her."
Biden "promised to be a bridge to the next generation," and "we're crossing that bridge right now," Baldwin said.
"And I think you're going to see a lot of unity, a lot of excitement, a lot of people inspired by this moment," Baldwin said. "And certainly, as I mentioned, I've been hearing so many concerns from Wisconsinites, especially Democrats. We're going to come together. I'm very excited about that."
U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan
U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, the only congressional Wisconsin Democrat who called on Biden to withdraw, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Sunday that Biden has done a "tremendous job" but called his announcement to step aside the "right decision" as he's faced pressure from within his own party. Pocan said Biden was "putting country before himself."
Pocan said Harris is "absolutely the leading contender" at the moment and speculated that not many Democrats with presidential ambitions "would want to get involved in a few-week-long campaign only to potentially lose."
"I know there will be lots and lots of conversations to happen in the coming hours and days," Pocan said. "But certainly have every confidence in the vice president should she be the nominee."
U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore
And U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, a Milwaukee Democrat, said Sunday afternoon she "will support Vice President Harris as the Democratic nominee and will work hard to ensure Democrats win in 2024."
"My focus remains on defeating Donald Trump," Moore said. "We must all unite in our efforts to protect our democracy and individual freedoms."
Gov. Tony Evers
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in a statement praised Biden's career and accomplishments. He attacked Trump, though made no mention of Harris. "There is much work ahead of us, and Wisconsin Democrats and I will spend every moment of every day for the next 107 days working to defeat him," Evers said of Trump.
Elections commissioner and DNC delegate Ann Jacobs
Wisconsin Elections Commission Chair Ann Jacobs, a Democrat and delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month, posted a joint statement with seven other Milwaukee delegates praising Biden as someone who "always put his country first."
"We are excited to support Kamala Harris as our presidential nominee," Jacobs wrote in a joint statement. "We have full confidence in her and are energized to help her win this November!!"
Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman Brian Schimming
Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman Brian Schimming accused Democrats of "subjecting the American people to chaos, uncertainty, and an incapacitated presidency."
In an interview, Schimming told the Journal Sentinel a shift from Biden to Harris would not dramatically change Republicans' approach to the campaign because "Kamala Harris and Joe Biden are tied at the hip."
"As far as I'm concerned, Kamala Harris is Joe Biden: The Sequel," Schimming said. "In addition to the fact that I can't wait for her to answer the question of when she finally realized that Joe Biden was not capable of being president, it really gets to the issue of, if he's not capable of being a candidate for president, and the rigors of that, how is he capable of being president?"
Harris has "all the disadvantages of having spent four years with Joe Biden and none of the advantages of making decisions on her own," he said.
Asked how a shift from Biden to Harris could affect Wisconsin's Senate race, Schimming said Baldwin has "been playing hide-and-go-seek" in terms of her relationship with Biden.
"I think for her, if she's going to go with a full-throated endorsement of Kamala Harris right now, she can go right ahead. We're fine with that," Schimming said. "In fact … if she's busy this weekend, she can send me a copy of the endorsement, and we'll put it out for her."
Republican Senate candidate Eric Hovde
Baldwin's opponent, Republican businessman Eric Hovde, on Sunday noted Baldwin had declined to say whether Biden should continue to seek reelection and accused Baldwin of being part of a "cover-up" regarding Biden's viability.
"It really doesn’t matter who the Democrats pick," said Hovde, who has sought to tie Baldwin to Biden. "All the top options hold extreme views completely out of touch with our nation and are complicit in this scandal to defraud the American people."
State Sen. Kelda Roys
Still, other Wisconsin Democrats also lined up behind Harris as the new potential nominee.
State Sen. Kelda Roys of Madison, who on Friday called on Biden to withdraw from the race, praised his decision as "selfless and patriotic."
"His presidency is transformational, and my kids and grandkids are going to feel the positive effects of the changes that the Biden-Harris administration made, and that really is an extraordinary legacy," Roys told the Journal Sentinel.
Roys said Harris would provide a sharp contrast to Trump as a prosecutor running against a convicted felon. She said Harris would offer energy, charisma and dynamism as a presidential candidate.
"Democrats have so much great talent, so many leaders who are doing smart, progressive, thoughtful things to put money back in people's pockets, to protect protect our freedoms and rights, and we're going to be able to focus on that," Roys said.
Asked whether it's best for Democrats to line up behind Harris, Roys said it's important for people to come to that decision on their own, but she thinks Biden's endorsement will be "extremely persuasive."
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson
And in Milwaukee, Mayor Cavalier Johnson said he will "now focus my attention to make sure that we elect Kamala Harris to be the next President of the United States."
Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson
Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson put Harris' future at the top of the ticket this way: "With Biden‘s blessing it seems a fait-accompli." He floated Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as a potential vice presidential nominee.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tammy Baldwin reacts to Biden dropping out, backs Kamala Harris