Manchin calls on Biden to step aside in 2024 to focus on being president and "leave with a legacy unmatched"
Sen. Joe Manchin on Sunday joined a growing pool of lawmakers calling on President Biden to end his reelection campaign.
Sen. Joe Manchin, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, added his voice on Sunday to a growing number of lawmakers from both parties who are publicly urging President Biden to step aside and allow a new Democratic nominee to take on former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
In an interview on "Face the Nation," Manchin said he is "hopeful" that Mr. Biden can finish out his current term and "be the president I know he can be" if he passes the torch to a new generation of leadership. The senator from West Virginia said he wants the president to be able to focus on healing the country in the remaining five months of his term, rather than campaigning for reelection.
"I would like President Biden to be able to finish his five months of leading this country, truly leading this country, the way I know he can," Manchin said. "And if at this point in time, he would pass that torch, he would be able to focus all his energy on, in the next five months, how do we heal?"
Manchin's comments come after Mr. Biden's performance in the televised debate with Trump sparked panic within the Democratic Party, with some leading members now questioning the president's fitness to be their nominee. The president's recent COVID-19 diagnosis has also fueled concerns about his campaign.
While Manchin said he has "all the confidence in the world" that Mr. Biden can serve out his current term, he noted that campaigns take a toll and take away from the time a president can spend on governing.
"Every day, being in campaign mode, thinking about what the next speech is going to be, the next fundraiser is going to be, takes you away from the needs that we have in the world today and in our country," he said.
With the Democratic National Convention scheduled to begin on August 19 in Chicago, Manchin acknowledged the tight timeframe for the party to choose a new nominee but suggested that an open primary process could be possible. When asked about the potential of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, Manchin said his support would depend on the policies and platform she would put forward.
Manchin, who previously announced his exit from the Democratic Party in May, first made his call for Mr. Biden to exit the race on ABC's "This Week" earlier on Sunday. He said that while the president could finish his term and leave a significant legacy, it is time to "pass the torch to a new generation."
In response to Manchin's comments, a Biden campaign spokesperson acknowledged the differing opinions within the Democratic caucus but expressed confidence that the party would unite to defeat Trump in November.
Sen. Manchin's call for Mr. Biden to step aside echoes similar sentiments expressed by other Democratic lawmakers. On Friday, a group of nine House Democrats and two Democratic senators, including key Biden ally Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, urged the president to withdraw from the 2024 race.
In a separate "Face the Nation" interview on Sunday, Rep. Dean Phillips, a Minnesota Democrat who endorsed Mr. Biden, also encouraged the president to step aside, saying, "It's time to step aside and turn this over to a new generation... He has a chance to be an American hero."
In an interview on "Face the Nation," Manchin said he is "hopeful" that Mr. Biden can finish out his current term and "be the president I know he can be" if he passes the torch to a new generation of leadership. The senator from West Virginia said he wants the president to be able to focus on healing the country in the remaining five months of his term, rather than campaigning for reelection.
"I would like President Biden to be able to finish his five months of leading this country, truly leading this country, the way I know he can," Manchin said. "And if at this point in time, he would pass that torch, he would be able to focus all his energy on, in the next five months, how do we heal?"
Manchin's comments come after Mr. Biden's performance in the televised debate with Trump sparked panic within the Democratic Party, with some leading members now questioning the president's fitness to be their nominee. The president's recent COVID-19 diagnosis has also fueled concerns about his campaign.
While Manchin said he has "all the confidence in the world" that Mr. Biden can serve out his current term, he noted that campaigns take a toll and take away from the time a president can spend on governing.
"Every day, being in campaign mode, thinking about what the next speech is going to be, the next fundraiser is going to be, takes you away from the needs that we have in the world today and in our country," he said.
With the Democratic National Convention scheduled to begin on August 19 in Chicago, Manchin acknowledged the tight timeframe for the party to choose a new nominee but suggested that an open primary process could be possible. When asked about the potential of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, Manchin said his support would depend on the policies and platform she would put forward.
Manchin, who previously announced his exit from the Democratic Party in May, first made his call for Mr. Biden to exit the race on ABC's "This Week" earlier on Sunday. He said that while the president could finish his term and leave a significant legacy, it is time to "pass the torch to a new generation."
In response to Manchin's comments, a Biden campaign spokesperson acknowledged the differing opinions within the Democratic caucus but expressed confidence that the party would unite to defeat Trump in November.
Sen. Manchin's call for Mr. Biden to step aside echoes similar sentiments expressed by other Democratic lawmakers. On Friday, a group of nine House Democrats and two Democratic senators, including key Biden ally Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, urged the president to withdraw from the 2024 race.
In a separate "Face the Nation" interview on Sunday, Rep. Dean Phillips, a Minnesota Democrat who endorsed Mr. Biden, also encouraged the president to step aside, saying, "It's time to step aside and turn this over to a new generation... He has a chance to be an American hero."