PA and Bucks County Democrats offer praise for Biden for 'selfless act.' What they said

Pennsylvania political leaders took to social media Sunday in response to President Joe Biden's announcement that he was stepping down as the Democratic 2024 presidential candidate, and endorsing Vice-President Kamala Harris.

In posts and statements, Democrats universally praised Biden for his decades of public service in the Senate and then the White House, and described his presidency as among the most successful in modern history.

State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, D-10, and chair of the Bucks County Democratic Party posted on “X” his support of Harris for president and he thanked Biden for his “lifetime of service to our country” adding, “You will always have a home here in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.”

“History will judge Joseph R. Biden as one of the greatest presidents since the end of World War II,” Santasiero said. “ It will also record him as having saved American Democracy once, in 2020, and with this selfless act today, very likely this year as well.”

Bucks County Democratic Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia said neither she or the county would be releasing a statement on the Biden announcement.  Marseglia, of Middletown, and Santarsiero are among the six Bucks County delegates committed to Biden attending next month's DNC in Chicago.

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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro released a statement Sunday supporting Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate ahead of the DNC. The Montgomery County native and former Pennsylvania Attorney General said that he has known Harris for nearly two decades.

He called the vice president a leader who will continue the work of “generations of Americans who came before us to perfect our union and protect our democracy and advance real freedom.”

“The best path forward for the Democratic Party is to quickly unite behind Vice President Harris and refocus on winning the presidency,” Shapiro added. “The contrast in this race could not be clearer and the road to victory in November runs right through Pennsylvania.”  

Democrat Ashley Ehasz, a military veteran in a rematch against incumbent Republican Brian Fitzpatrick for the First Congressional District seat, wrote on “X” that she respected the president’s decision to not seek reelection.

“I am deeply thankful for all he has done for the American People,” she added.

As of Sunday evening the Fitzpatrick campaign had not released any statements on Biden stepping down as the Democratic candidate, and he had not posted anything about it on “X.”

Montgomery County Democrat Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, who represents the Fourth District, thanked Biden for his service in a statement posted on X, adding that Biden has led the United States since 2021 with “dignity, empathy and unwavering patriotism.”

“He has prioritized everyday Americans, guided the United States into pandemic recovery, and enacted some of the most consequential legislation in a generation, modernized infrastructure, cleaner water, lower prescription drug costs and the first gun safety law in 30 years to name a few,” Dean wrote.

Longtime Democrat Sen. Robert Casey Jr. wrote on “X” that Biden deserves the gratitude of a nation for his historic achievements including rebuilding our economy after the pandemic and delivering the largest infrastructure investment in modern history.

“He has had an exemplary career in public service. He is a patriot who has always put our country first,” Casey wrote in his post.

But not everyone on social media was offering words of congratulations and appreciation for Biden or his party.

Republican David Winkler, a military veteran challenging Dean in November, took a swipe at Democrats in a post on “X” in reaction to the Biden announcement calling it evidence of a “coup.”

“Let’s be clear, this wasn;t a democratic bow out by Biden. This was a coup by Democrat donors and elite who are hellbent at maintaining temporary power. The Democratic Party is everything they claim Republicans are with this move,” Winkler wrote.

Winkler posted that based on the number of “unbound” delegates there is “no legal way” the party can replace Biden after the first round of voting to get to the Super Delegation calling it a “move to subvert the free and fair election process of the 2024 Presidential Primary process.”

“Over 12 million Americans voted for President Biden across all 50 States & he won every Primary & delegate,” Winkler added. “This is a true danger to our Republic, that when you don't have a pathway, you change out the candidate after the people have spoken.”

In a series of posts appearing on “X” Republican David McCormick, who is challenging Casey for his seat representing Pennsylvania in the Senate, used the Biden announcement to tie Casey to the president and what he called Democrat’s “disastrous liberal agenda”

“Even though he knew Joe Biden was NOT capable of serving as Commander-in-Chief, Casey stood by him,” McCormick wrote, calling Casey an “empty suit,” “habitual liar,” and “career politician.”

“Bob Casey can’t run from the disastrous liberal agenda he’s rubber stamped for the past three and a half years and throughout his 30 years of collecting a taxpayer-funded paycheck,” McCormick added.

Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: How did Bucks, Montgomery County leaders respond to Biden dropping out