Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) praised President Joe Biden as a “true patriot” on Sunday after Biden announced he would “step aside” and not run for re-election, instead focusing on his duties in the Oval Office for the next five to six months.
“Joe Biden is not only a great president and a great legislative leader, he is also a truly incredible human being. Of course his decision was not easy, but he has once again put our country, our party and our future first,” Schumer said in a statement.
“Joe, today proves you are a true patriot and a great American,” Schumer said.
Biden announced his decision not to run for re-election after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in separate meetings that many Democrats have serious doubts about Biden’s ability to defeat former President Trump in the November presidential election.
According to a source familiar with the message delivered to the president, Schumer met with Biden at his beach house in Rehoboth, Delaware, on July 20 and told him that a majority of Democratic senators do not believe Biden has a chance to win reelection.
A spokesman for Schumer said last week that he “conveyed the caucus’ views directly to President Biden.”
Other Democrats praised Biden’s decision to drop out of the race after his disastrous June 27 debate defeat and multiple polls showed him trailing Trump.
“In more than 50 years of public service, President Biden has always put country above personal interests and ambitions. That is the character of him,” Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., said in a statement.
“His presidency, and career, will be remembered alongside those of Roosevelt and Johnson for its magnitude, importance and lasting impact on American society,” the senator added. “Above all, I am grateful that Joe Biden has given so much to this country through his life’s service.”
A new poll of Michigan voters released Sunday by the Detroit Free Press showed Trump holding a 7-point lead over Biden in the state, which Democrats counted as part of the so-called “blue wall” along with Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
An EPIC-MRA poll in Lansing found Trump leading Biden 49 percent to 42 percent.
