WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Joe Manchina Democrat turned independent, urged the president Joe Biden on Sunday to abandon his re-election bid and focus on the remaining months of his presidency.
“I made the decision with a heavy heart that I think it’s time to pass the torch to a new generation,” the West Virginia lawmaker told CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Nearly three dozen Democrats in Congress have said it is time for Biden to drop out of the race. Four Democratic senators – Peter Welch of Vermont, Jon Tester of Montana, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Sherrod Brown of Ohio – said the Democratic president should abandon his re-election campaign against Republican Donald Trump.
Biden’s debate performance raised open questions about the 81-year-old’s ability to mount a convincing campaign to defeat Trump.
“I am truly concerned about the health and well-being of the president,” Manchin said on ABC’s “This Week.”
He also said, “I truly believe the Democratic Party needs an open process” in choosing a candidate to replace Biden.
Manchin, who became an independent in May after years as a Democrat, is not seeking re-election to the Senate
