'Not a roadmap for this': Bay Democratic, Republican leaders react to Biden dropping out

PANAMA CITY — For Laura Bjorklund, whoever becomes the Democratic nominee would make a better commander-in-chief than former President Donald Trump .

Following news on Sunday that President Joe Biden officially ended his bid for re-election, Bjorklund, chairperson of the Bay County Democratic Executive Committee, said she plans to fully support her party's candidate, whoever they might be.

According to USA Today , Biden announced his decision in a letter on Sunday on social media. He then endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee − ahead of the Democratic National Convention from Aug. 19-22.

"There is not a roadmap for this," Bjorklund said. "There is going to be, I'm sure, lots of discussion at the top level of the party, but Kamala has done good work. I think she would make an excellent candidate. She actually polls very well against Trump.

"Whoever we end up having, they will be a better candidate than Donald Trump. If you care about our democracy, you'll vote Democratic this election. ... We've been through one of Trump's administrations before, and he certainly did a lot of damage to the country."

Biden's announcement came amid growing concern from Democratic leaders that he might not be viewed as fit for a second term as president, following a poor debate performance June 27.

His decision to drop out of the race was no shock for Tho Bishop, chairperson of the Bay County Republican Party of Florida, who said he thinks it was a result of pressure from Democratic leaders .

"Biden didn't do this out of a sense of patriotism or any higher calling," Bishop said. "He did so because he was being stabbed in the back by the real powers that be in his party. ... The reason we're at this point is because the debate made clear what was always obvious to those who were interested in seeing it, that he has not been mentally capable of being president for quite some time."

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Bishop also said he would "fully support" Harris as the Democratic Nominee, noting that he thinks she would be an easy opponent for Trump.

"I think Kamala Harris has proven to be the one Democrat on the national stage less competent than Biden," he said. "If that is who they are putting up right now, then more power to them. I think she's going to be easier than a pre-debate Biden."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: 'Not a roadmap for this': Bay Democratic, Republican leaders react to Biden dropping out