Morning Joe crew applauds Biden’s ‘authenticity’ and ‘commitment’ after exit from race

The Morning Joe crew applauded President Joe Biden's "authenticity" and "commitment" to his party and nation Monday following the president's weekend announcement that he would end his bid for a second term .

"On many levels, I'm really sad," co-host Mika Brzezinski said in reaction to Biden's Sunday letter, which said that the president would do what is in "the best interest of my party and country" and leave the 2024 presidential race.

"He had authenticity and touch. Whether you saw it or not, everything about him, even sometimes the stutter and the bumbling, was part of the touch," Brzezinski said. "Part of the empathic, very loving, very clear, clear-eyed touch that he had that allowed him and enabled him to be an effective president."

It was that touch that ultimately caused his demise after his June debate debacle against former President Donald Trump, she said.

"He would say, 'No time to complain about it. Let's move on. It's go time,' and Democrats really have a moment of momentum here," Brzezinski said.

The Rev. Al Sharpton echoed Brzezinski's sentiment and declared Biden's legacy must be protected.

"He was dug in. He was going to fight till the end," Sharpton said.

Biden was also committed to voting rights and women's rights, and it could have been those causes and his principles that convinced him to leave the race, Sharpton said.

"I think that the country, Republican and Democrat, owes him a real, real, real applause because I think he showed that he as commitments bigger than himself, which is rare in politics," Sharpton said.

"What he did took real courage, and what he's done for this country, he should have everyone's gratitude," he said.

Shortly after posting his decision to leave the presidential race, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the Democratic ticket and challenge former President Donald Trump in November.

Defeating Trump will not be easy to defeat, Brzezinski said, adding that "anyone who thinks he is back in 2016."

Since Biden's endorsement of Harris, Democrats have raised more than $50 million, according to co-host Joe Scarborough.

"I'm talking to the same campaign last night that was so depressed over the past two weeks ... just energy, and they said, you know, we think we're probably going to break all records for fundraising, not just for Democrats but for Democrats and Republicans," he said.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Donors are all in, according to Scarborough.

"They are fired up, and they're ready to go," the co-host said.