Prominent names from both sides of aisle react to Biden’s decision to drop out

[KARAH RUCKER]

THERE WAS IMMEDIATE REACTION FROM PROMINENT PEOPLE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY —

INCLUDING FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA. THE CLINTONS. AND MAJOR LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.

THERE WAS ALSO REACTION FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE AISLE —

THE HOUSE SPEAKER CALLING FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TO RESIGN NOW.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER AND FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI BOTH SUPPORTED BIDEN’S DECISION — CALLING IT A DIFFICULT ONE TO MAKE — BUT THE RIGHT ONE.

THEN — A JOINT STATEMENT FROM THE CLINTONS — NOT ONLY SUPPORTING BIDEN’S DECISION TO DROP OUT — BUT ALSO SUPPORTING HIS **ENDORSEMENT TO REPLACE HIM —

THROWING THEIR SUPPORT BEHIND VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS.

FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA PUBLISHED A LENGTHY STATEMENT TO SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING BIDEN’S ANNOUNCEMENT —

TOUTING BIDEN’S SUCCESSES IN HIS LONG POLITICAL CAREER — INCLUDING HIS TIME AS OBAMA’S V-P.

AND SAYS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS NOW ENTERING “UNCHARTED WATERS.”

ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE — HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON SAYS “IF BIDEN ISN’T FIT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT, HE’S NOT FIT TO SERVE AS ONE.”

AND THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE — FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP — NOW CANCELING A PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE THAT WAS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER AMID UNCERTAINTY ON WHO WILL BE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.

SO WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY?

IT’LL PROBABLY BE A BUSY WEEK OF FURTHER ENDORSEMENTS —

AND QUESTIONS SWIRLING AROUND WHO WOULD BE THE VICE PRESIDENT ON THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET IF KAMALA IS THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE?

THE PARTY AS A WHOLE — AFTER A TUMULTUOUS FEW WEEKS SINCE DEBATE NIGHT — SEEMS RE-ENERGIZED —

WITH REPORTS SHOWING THE PARTY RAISING NEARLY 50 MILLION DOLLARS SINCE BIDEN’S ANNOUNCEMENT.

WHILE A LOT OF ATTENTION TURNS TO KAMALA HARRIS IN THE COMING DAYS —

IT WON’T BE UNTIL THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION NEXT MONTH THAT THE PARTY SECURES ITS NOMINEE TO TAKE ON FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IN NOVEMBER.