Sen. Joe Manchin, along with his four Senate Democratic colleagues, have increasingly publicly called on President Biden to step aside and let a “new generation” take the reins.
Sen. Manchin (Independent, WV), who left the Democratic Party in May but still caucuses with the party, is joining the call along with Sens. Peter Welch (D-VT), Jon Tester (D-MT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).
“I wish my friend the president good health and happiness,” Manchin said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” referring to Biden’s COVID-19 diagnosis last week.
“I hope so, because I think it will leave a great legacy for him as one of the greatest leaders we’ve had,” he added. “It is with a heavy heart that I come to this decision, and I believe it is now time to pass the baton to a new generation.”
Manchin, 76, specifically called for an “open process” to select a new nominee, but acknowledged he didn’t know the “mechanics” of how that would work given the proximity of the Democratic National Convention, which begins on August 19.
Biden, 81, will effectively be selected as the Democratic presidential nominee ahead of the convention because of ballot access.
But about 30 Democrats in the House and Senate have publicly called for him to step down, concerned about Biden’s electoral chances against former President Donald Trump, who survived an assassination attempt earlier this month.
Manchin, who has clashed with Biden in the past and accused him of leaning too far left, had previously said it would become clear within days whether the president should stay in office.
In a letter to Democratic lawmakers on July 8, Biden said he was “firmly committed” to continuing the campaign.
All of this comes in the wake of Biden’s stumbling performance in last month’s debate with Trump, which raised alarm bells about his age and mental capacity.
Most Democrats in Congress support Biden, at least publicly.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) made headlines last Friday when she posted a video endorsing Biden and expressing concern about the legal risks of trying to replace him.
She also addressed concerns about succession planning, arguing that those calling for Biden’s departure have yet to articulate a solid plan for who would replace him.
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Massachusetts) also drew attention with an op-ed he penned about his interaction with Biden in Normandy last month.
“The first time, he did not seem to recognize me,” the Democrat wrote. “Of course, that can happen to anyone as they get older, but having watched the disastrous debate a few weeks ago, I was forced to acknowledge that what I saw at Normandy was part of a deeper problem,” he wrote about their June 6 encounter.
Manchin, who accompanied Biden on the trip, suggested he did not show any signs of cognitive problems at the time.
“None of us are the same people we were 10 years ago,” Manchin explained.
Manchin also made the plea to Biden on ABC’s “This Week.”
Biden had been quarantining after contracting COVID-19 but had said he would return to campaigning this week.
Both houses of Congress are also set to reconvene this week, raising the possibility that even more Democrats will publicly defect to Biden.
