Columbus leaders praise Biden's 'selfless political decision,' but some Ohioans are wary

Following President Joe Biden's decision to end his reelection campaign on Sunday, local officials are lauding him for putting self-interest aside and doing what is best for the party and country.

Biden announced his decision to end his candidacy Sunday afternoon and said he would explain his reasoning in a public speech later this week.

Reaction from local Democratic leaders has been supportive of Biden's decision.

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said Biden "exemplifies a spirit of service."

"Through it all, he has led with tremendous grace, grit and perseverance, consistently demonstrating his commitment to lifting up working-class families while advancing the best interests of all Americans at home and abroad," Ginther said. "His decision to end his reelection campaign at this time is the latest example of his enduring dedication to the strength and well-being of our country."

Franklin County Commissioner John O'Grady said he will be attending the Democratic National Convention when it begins in mid-August. He said he first met Biden in 1987 and called the president's decision a "huge loss."

"He's the best first-term president this country has had since FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt)," O'Grady said. "This is the most selfless political decision since Lyndon Johnson in 1968. He put the country and the party above his own interests.

"The decision is understandable, but it's a huge loss for the party and the country," O'Grady said.

Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Biden's leadership on tough issues has made him "one of the most accomplished presidents of my lifetime."

"Now he is putting country over politics to help us all save democracy," Hardin said, adding that he is a delegate at the DNC and will stand with Vice President Kamala Harris, who he endorsed when she ran for president in 2020.

Biden endorsed Harris shortly after announcing his departure from the race.

Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley said she knows Biden and his family cannot have reached the decision easily.

"I believe he and other leaders considered this long and hard," Crawley said. "He's putting his self-interest aside and doing what's best for the party. He's doing what he believes is best for Democrats to be successful in November."

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein called Biden "one of the greatest presidents."

"His love for our country and our fellow Americans never wavered in all his years of service," Klein said.

Columbus City Council member Shayla Favor, who is running for Franklin County Prosecutor in November, reposted Biden's endorsement of Harris on Sunday afternoon.

"Thank you for all your service Mr. President," Favor posted. "I'm #AllinFavor for Kamala Harris! Let's Goooooo!"

U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat who represents a large portion of Columbus, Gahanna and some other eastern suburbs, wrote on X: "Thank you @JoeBiden . I stand with you in endorsing @KamalaHarris to lead Democrats to victory in November. It’s go time!"

Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) released a statement praising Biden, saying he "is and always has been a brave and selfless leader. His love for his country first has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest American presidents in history. We are thankful for his years of service, and we know when he leaves office, he’ll continue to be a party statesman and hero for the next generation."

Russo said legislation Biden has championed as president "created some of the strongest years of job growth in history, lowered costs for our working families, and rebuilt our roads, bridges and our communities. He helped bring us out of the darkness of the COVID-19 pandemic, signed historic gun violence legislation, and gave a voice to millions in America and around the world who had none.."

Biden, she said, "has earned the thanks of an indebted country, and we will always be grateful to call him our president.”

Community members have mixed reactions to Biden decision

Derrick McKennie, 61, a Democrat from Youngstown who attended the Columbus Department of Recreation and Parks' Jazz & Ribfest on Sunday, said he thinks Biden is too old and that his mental capacity is diminished.

“I was concerned about his mental capacity — not today but two, three, four years down the road. So, I am glad he’s giving someone else an opportunity," he said. "I am nervous, as a Democrat … because any weakness will be exploited by the Republicans and Donald Trump.”

McKennie said this decision might have been too late, and this was one of the Democrat’s last chances before the DNC. He said he thinks the Democrats tried to sneak Biden through the convention, but that was the wrong strategy. Although McKennie said he would support Harris, he said he thinks the Democrats’ best chance is if Robert F Kennedy Jr. runs in Biden’s place.

Nick Bowen, who lives in downtown Columbus, said he is an unaffiliated voter and was “not surprised” by the news of Biden stepping aside from reelection. “It’s kind of a reality issue… (Biden) doesn’t seem well enough to run,” he said.

Fatima Olea hails from Acapulco, Mexico, now works in Cincinnati. Olea said she first saw the news and thought it was a meme. She said that some people in Mexico see American politics as a “reality show” as a coping mechanism.

"I think we prefer to think that it's a joke because we don't want to get worried," Olea said. "It's going to be affecting us a lot.”

Tyler Schulte, another Cincinnati resident who described himself as an unaffiliated voter, said he was “kind of surprised but not surprised” when he first heard Biden was dropping out.

Schulte said that he is unsure about what will happen next and will be curious to see whom Democrats select as the replacement presidential nominee.

"I'm not happy with what Biden was doing at all. I wouldn't be opposed to voting Republican,” Schulte said.

Jacob Vandergriff, of Cincinnati, who was walking around German Village on Sunday afternoon, said he was "surprised" by the news of Biden dropping out of the presidential race. Vandergriff said he does not affiliate with any political party but identifies as conservative. He said he did not believe Harris could win over moderate voters.

“I just don't see (Harris) doing well against Donald Trump, at least," Vandergriff said. "I thought Biden was better against him. I don't see it going well for that party."

He said he has not yet decided how to vote in November.

Scott Mangini, a Democratic resident of German Village, found out that Biden had dropped out when a Dispatch reporter approached him.

"I think Kamala is a smart woman,” Mangini said. "I think she's been given almost a nearly impossible task and she did not do well, relatively."

Mangini said Biden's dropping out is "unfortunate." He said he still has a good overall opinion of the president and his work at the White House. He partially blamed "the media" for latching onto the president's verbal missteps despite everything else he has done.

Fontaine Lawson, a lifetime Democrat and South Side resident, was shocked to find out Biden had dropped out.

"Why did he do that?," Lawson said, adding that he didn't believe Harris would have the ability to beat former President Donald J. Trump in the November election.

Anne Caldwell, a Kentuckian attending the Jazz and Rib Fest in Columbus, said she was excited about Harris potentially becoming the nominee.

"I personally think the world would be a better place with a Black woman president," she said.

bbruner@gannett.com

awinfrey@gannett.com

dhunt@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus leaders praise Biden's 'selfless political decision,' but some Ohioans are wary