Biden withdrawal: How is the Central Valley reacting?

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Local party chairs have mixed reactions to President Joe Biden stepping aside from the race.

President Biden’s decision to withdraw makes him the first sitting commander-in-chief to drop out since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968.

Connie Conway, former Congresswoman and Chair of Tulare County Republican party, says she feels bad for President Joe Biden, reacting to his statement released on Sunday afternoon.

“It can’t be a happy time for President Biden. I just— knowing what I know about politics, and I often say, I may have said this to you before, that politics is a blood sport. And I think we’re seeing that, that we’re going to watch that play out. And that’s what I think behind the scenes will be very ugly,” Conway said.

With Vice President Kamala Harris as a possible candidate for the Democratic party, Conway says this will not affect the narrative around the race.

“Neither one of them were polling very well. Of course, you know, things can change, but I don’t see much difference in other than surface differences. It’s the same team, It’s the same policies. It’s the same game,” Conway said.

Marsha Conant, First Vice Chair for the Fresno Democratic Party, says Harris is a fair endorsement, calling for a change.

“He selected her and again, he says that’s the best decision he made in his presidency. I think in the next month or so until actually the Democratic convention starts, there will be a lot of moving, a lot of people who’s going to make the strongest ticket. But I have faith that they will come up with a strong ticket,” Conant said.

She says Biden’s decision to step back is valid.

“After that terrible debate, the pressure that has mounted against him has made it almost impossible for him to continue. And I think once again, having the greater good of the country at heart, he is stepping back,” Conant said.

Despite different stances, both chairs agree that they think he made the right decision. However, there are still a lot of unanswered questions about what this means leading up to November.

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