National Dems Scrambling; Local Dems Focused
While national leaders lay plans for Chicago, Democratic leaders in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, and Stafford stay focused on the election gameplan.
By Martin Davis
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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Not since March 1968 when Lyndon Johnson publicly announced he would not seek or accept his party’s nomination for a second-term presidency has a national party found itself scrambling as it did Sunday following President Joe Biden’s announcement that he would end his campaign for a second term.
A poor debate showing against former President Donald Trump, and the recent news that he had contracted COVID, proved too much for Biden to overcome.
While the national party struggles to put together a plan before the Democratic National Convention meets next month in Chicago — ironically, the same city where the Democrats met in 1968 — local Democratic leaders were uniformly consistent in their messaging.
Howard Rudat is chair of the Stafford Democratic Committee and received the news in what was for him an appropriate venue.
“In what is a fitting coincidence,” he told the Advance, “I, a fellow Scrantonian, was riding Amtrak when the announcement was made.”
As far as the committee’s work moving forward, Rudat said “Our work has not changed. We as a party are united by our candidates that will keep the White House and the Senate and flip the House by focusing on issues that matter to Americans: reproductive freedom, gun violence prevention, climate protection, justice reform, and the continued growth of the economy.”
Ken Lecky, chair of the Fredericksburg Democratic Committee told the Advance: “As we were telling volunteers at a canvass launch today before we heard the news that President Biden is ending his campaign, we’ve been asking people to support the policies and vision of the Democratic Party by voting for Eugene Vindman, Tim Kaine, and the candidate at the top of the Democratic ticket, whether that’s Joe Biden or someone else.”
And in Spotsylvania, local Democratic committee chair Jeff Kent said “nothing changes for the work ahead of us through the election. We have to inform voters about … the importance of voting down ballot to maintain Democratic representation to carry on our goals.”
All three discussed the significance of Biden’s stepping aside.
“I … thank him for making a huge decision to put his country and party ideals before his own desires,” Kent said.
Lecky echoed that refrain, thanking him for “his decades of selfless service and for continuing to do what he thinks is best for the nation and the world.”
And Rudat said: “President Biden demonstrated … that he always puts country before self.”
Vindman Backs Harris
The Democratic Candidate for Congressional District 7, Eugene Vindman, issued a press release Sunday afternoon backing Vice President Kamala Harris. The press release read, in part:
I am proud to endorse Kamala Harris for President. She has the track record, leadership skills and support to win the November election. As a fellow prosecutor, I know Vice President Harris has taken on the tough fights and routed out corruption in our system.
He ended by encouraging Democrats to “unify behind VP Harris so she can lead our country forward.”
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President Joe Biden has earned our respect, appreciation, and thanks for his many accomplishments on behalf of the citizens of the United States of America over decades. May we unite to VOTE and elect Kamala Harris to continue our mission.
I'll wait and let the nomination process run its course, as it should.
I'll take a hard look at VP Harris. She certainly deserves that.
But I don't mind a bit allowing others to throw their hat in the ring. We tried ignoring electability in 2016, how'd that turn out for us?
Gavin Newsome comes to mind as someone I'd like to hear more from. Competently running the 5th largest economy in the world is something worth considering. I like executive experience.
Either way, I know that whoever the Democratic nominee is; that's who I'll be voting for when the alternative is ..... yeah, that guy.
But since we're a political party and not a cult; there should be no anointment of anyone. Send it to the convention floor, and may the best man (or woman) win,