As President Biden leaves the race, WA State party chairs weigh in

Soundside

Vice President Kamala Harris is headed to visit campaign staff in Wilmington, Delaware this afternoon. This of course, comes as she works to consolidate Democratic support for her abbreviated campaign for the party’s presidential nomination.

It once seemed beyond the realm of possibility that President Biden would leave the campaign stage. For weeks he insisted he was up to the task of defeating Donald Trump. At one point Biden even said the “Lord Almighty” would have to tell him to quit.

Meanwhile, more and more Democratic members of congress felt he needed a “come to Jesus” moment to realize he should quit the race.

It looked like a stalemate.

But then, a remarkable thing happened over the past week or so. As the President was fighting COVID, he reportedly listened to arguments he didn’t want to hear.

Some close aides and longtime allies like Nancy Pelosi brought him data: evidence that showed he was likely headed for defeat.

And Biden changed his mind. He was, as they say, "100 percent in, until he was 100 percent out."

He joins a small handful of sitting Presidents who have made such a decision.

And it’s worth saying: it is incredibly rare to willingly give up what is (arguably) the most powerful job in the world.

Now we’re all navigating this uncharted territory together.

Soundside host Libby Denkmann sat down with the Chairs of both the WA State Democrats and WA State Republicans to see how they are navigating this momentous time.

GUESTS:

• Shasti Conrad: chair of the Washington State Democratic Party
• State Rep Jim Walsh: chair of the Washington State Republican Party

RELATED LINKS:

• https://x.com/washdems/status/1815416981086257185
• https://www.reuters.com/world/us/harris-campaign-allies-calling-delegates-lock-support-before-convention-sources-2024-07-21/
• https://twitter.com/WAGOP/status/1815397774969778307

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