Joe Manchin calls for Biden to drop out of 2024 race
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Sen. Joe Manchin is questioned by reporters about the candidacy of President Joe Biden, in the U.S. Capitol. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W. Va.) called on President Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race Sunday.
Why it matters: Manchin's plea for Biden to "pass the torch to a new generation" on CNN's "State of the Union" follows similar calls from two of the Senate's most vulnerable Democrats, Sherrod Brown (Ohio) and Jon Tester (Montana), as well as from a growing number of influential House Democrats.
- Manchin, who left the Democratic Party in May, endorsed an "open process" to nominate a new candidate, saying he's "partial to governors."
- He named Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as "two tremendous governors right next door to me."
- Manchin echoed his call on ABC's "This Week," saying he'd concluded with a "heavy heart" that "it's time for a new generation to heal the party and the decline."
What they're saying: Manchin emphasized that he does not want Biden to resign the presidency, only to step aside as the candidate.
- "I want him to be the president in the last five months of this presidency of his term, to do what he can do...unite our country, to calm down our rhetoric and be able to focus his attention to peace in the world," he said.
- Campaigning for the presidency is an "unbelievable challenge," Manchin noted.
- He said on CBS's "Face the Nation" later Sunday that the White House was informed he would be publicly calling for the president to bow out of the race.
State of play: Manchin, 76, has in the past teased a potential White House run, but told CNN's Jake Tapper he would not pursue the nomination should Biden step aside.
- "I want to support a new generation; I think it's time," said Manchin, who has, at times, had a tense relationship with Biden.
- Manchin reiterated he would not seek the presidency or the vice presidency, telling CBS News' Margaret Brennan, "Forget about me."
- The West Virginian, who is not seeking re-election this year, has signaled he plans to expand his fundraising on behalf of Republican centrists and independents.
Between the lines: In a Boston Globe op-ed Friday, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Massachusetts) said Biden "didn't seem to recognize" him during an interaction at last month's D-Day anniversary event in Normandy, France.
- Yet Manchin told Tapper he has not witnessed any signs of cognitive decline when interacting with the 81-year-old president.
- "I was at Normandy too," Manchin said Sunday, adding, "I've not had that problem whatsoever."
The other side: Rep. Ro Khanna (D-California), who has emerged as one of Biden's staunchest defenders, slammed Manchin in a later ABC appearance Sunday.
- "You heard him say, he's a fiscal conservative and social compassionate, and he wants a more moderate ticket," Khanna told ABC's Martha Raddatz, adding, "Well, you go run for president if you want that."
- Biden campaign spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg said in a statement that the "majority of the Democratic caucus and the diverse base of the party continues to stand with" Biden, adding that the campaign is "clear-eyed that the urgency and stakes of beating Donald Trump means others feel differently."
- "We're a party that accepts — and even celebrates – differing opinions, but in the end, we will absolutely come together to beat Donald Trump this November," Ehrenberg said.
Go deeper: Behind the Curtain: Top Dems now believe Biden will exit
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
