Local and state leaders are reacting to President Joe Biden’s announcement that he will not run for a second term. Many Democrats are praising Biden for his decision, calling it brave.
On the Republican side, some leaders are using Biden’s withdrawal as a reason to call for his resignation now. They argue that if Biden is unfit to run for reelection, he is also unfit to finish his current term.
NBC2 spoke with local Republican leaders in Collier County about how Biden’s decision affects former President Donald Trump’s campaign. They believe that who the Democrats choose is less important than the policies they support.
U.S. Senator Rick Scott also weighed in, saying at a press conference in Kissimmee today, “He needs to leave. We know he can’t do the job. He needs to leave. They need to invoke the 25th Amendment.”
U.S. Representative Byron Donalds, who represents Florida's 19th Congressional District, criticized Biden’s performance and policies. Donalds said, “It’s not going to change that much because, at the end of the day, the border is wide open and we have an invasion on our southern border. That is a Biden-Harris policy, as is the massive inflation that has crippled the purchasing power of the American people. Kamala Harris was there for all of this.”
Similarly, U.S. Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, who represents part of Collier County, shared similar sentiments. Diaz-Balart said the problem is not with the person but with the policies.
“The harmful policies will stay the same, whether it’s Biden, Harris, or someone else,” Diaz-Balart said.
The Democratic National Convention is set to start on August 19th, where delegates will choose their nominee.