Schumer praises Biden as ‘true patriot’ for abandoning studies

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) praised President Biden as a “true patriot” on Sunday after the president announced he would “resign” and not run for re-election, focusing on his duties in the Oval Office over the next five to six months.

“Joe Biden was not only a great president and a great legislative leader, but also a truly incredible human being. Of course, his decision was not easy, but he once again put his country, his party and our future first,” Schumer said in a statement.

“Joe, today shows that you are a true patriot and a great American,” Schumer said.

Biden announced his decision not to run for reelection after Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY) and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told him in separate meetings that many Democratic lawmakers they had great doubts about their ability to defeat the former president. Trump in November.

Schumer met with Biden at his beach house in Rehoboth Beach, Del., on July 20 and told him that the majority of Democratic senators did not think he could be reelected, according to sources familiar with the message delivered to the president.

A spokesperson for Schumer said last week that the leader “has conveyed the views of his caucus directly to President Biden.”

Other Democrats applauded Biden’s decision to exit the race after multiple polls showed him losing ground to Trump following his disastrous June 27 debate performance.

“For more than 50 years in public service, President Biden has always put the country before any personal concerns or ambitions. He is simply who he is,” Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) said in a statement.

“His presidency – and career – will be remembered alongside those of Roosevelt and Johnson for its scale, magnitude and lasting impact on American society,” the senator added. “More than anything, I am grateful that Joe Biden has given so much to this country over a lifetime of service.”

A new Detroit Free Press poll of likely Michigan voters released Sunday showed Trump had a 7-point lead over Biden in the state, which Democrats have counted as part of the so-called Blue Wall along with Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The poll, conducted by EPIC-MRA in Lansing, found Trump leading Biden’s support, 49 percent to 42.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story