Welch: Biden withdrawal is ‘right decision’ for the country

Colchester, VT – On Monday, one day after President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race, Senator Peter Welch said the decision was the right call.

Welch said he thought Biden would withdraw, and hoped it would happen, but was still stunned when he heard the news. Ultimately he called Biden’s decision “inspiring” and said the President made the tough but necessary choice to do what is best for the American people.

“Coming to the conclusion that the best way to serve America was stepping aside, that’s very humble, and he has always put the country first,” said Welch. “I think it was the right decision, but I have great admiration for President Biden being able to make that decision.”

The Senator noted that he was initially a strong supporter of Biden’s reelection campaign, but nearly two weeks ago he became the first Democratic Senator to ask Biden to stop his campaign. He said Biden’s performance while debating former President Donald Trump changed his mind about the President’s chances.

“We can’t unsee what we saw, you know, so that had to be acknowledged,” Welch continued. “Democrats acknowledged it, this was a serious concern not just to the political folks but to everyday Americans. They had doubts about the health and capacity of the President, that’s a hard topic, but it can’t be ignored.”

Welch said he is impressed with Vice President Kamala Harris, and believes she is positioned well to win, but will not count other candidates out should they challenge her for the nomination. He stopped short of formally endorsing Harris for the presidency, saying he needed to discuss the matter with the rest of Vermont’s congressional delegation.

Across the aisle, Vermont Republican Party Chair Paul Dame agreed with Biden’s decision to drop out. He said he wished the decision came sooner, and acknowledged the necessary but inconvenient nature of the situation.

“It was good to see Democrats sort of finally catch up to where Republicans have been for several months having genuine concerns about Biden’s ability to continue,” said Dame. “It is going to be bittersweet for Democrats, it’s completely unprecedented to have an incumbent president drop out after he’s won every single primary.”

Dame said the Democratic Party brought these circumstances upon itself by discouraging other Democrats from challenging Biden during the primaries. He said a lack of primary campaigning experience could be a significant disadvantage for Harris or any other candidate wishing to challenge her.

“They’re going to have to put forward someone who’s never won a presidential primary, and that’s going to be a huge burden for whoever that candidate is,” Dame continued. “The jury is just still out on what the Democrat message is, who’s going to lead them and whether or not that person is going to be able to connect with everyday voters.”

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