U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, state Superintendent Jill Underly and a string of Dem officials quickly endorsed Kamala Harris for president after Joe Biden dropped out of the race.
Some Wisconsin Republicans, meanwhile, argued if Biden can no longer sustain a campaign for the presidency, he should resign from office, too. They accused Dems of covering up his struggles.
Baldwin, D-Madison, has avoided saying in recent weeks whether she believed Biden should continue his campaign after a much criticized June 27 debate performance. She several times said she had relayed concerns she heard from constituents to Biden’s campaign and the White House, but she declined to join the calls for him to step aside ahead of Sunday’s announcement.
Following Biden’s announcement, Baldwin said it had been an honor to work with him on issues such as health care and infrastructure. She then quickly endorsed Harris.
“I look forward to her candidacy as a new beginning for our party and our country and I am excited to work with her to lower costs for Wisconsin families, grow our Made in America economy, and restore our fundamental rights and freedoms,” Baldwin said.
GOP U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde said Baldwin did nothing while other Dems called on Biden to step aside.
“She stayed on the sidelines, dodging reporters and refusing to stand up for Wisconsinites,” Hovde said. “She’s been friends with President Biden for decades and never once told us about his obvious problems. We need to know right now – how long has Tammy Baldwin been part of the Biden cover-up?”
Harris had a campaign stop scheduled for Tuesday in Milwaukee before Biden announced plans to drop out.
The campaign had no immediate updates on the event following Biden’s decision.
Dem who endorsed Harris on Sunday include: state Superintendent Jill Underly, state Rep. Francesca Hong and state Sen. Mark Spreitzer. Eight Wisconsin delegates to the national convention — included state Rep. Christine Sinicki and state Elections Commission Chair Ann Jacobs also backed Harris.
The vice president posted on X Sunday that she was “honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination.”
Dem Gov. Tony Evers thanked Biden for his service while vowing to work with Dems through the November election to defeat Donald Trump.
“President Biden is a leader who’s always chosen unity over division, people over politics, selflessness over selfishness, and decency and respect over cruelty and retribution, and that’s as evident today as it has been throughout each day of his decades of public service,” Evers said. “I’ve been proud and honored to support him, and I’m incredibly grateful for all the work we’ve been able to do together. Thank you, Mr. President.”
State GOP Chair Brian Schimming, meanwhile, accused the Dem Party of subjecting Americans to “chaos, uncertainty, and an incapacitated presidency.”
“If Joe Biden is incapable of the rigors of running for reelection, then he cannot be trusted to fulfill the duties of his office,” Schimming said. “Everyone from Vice President Harris, Tammy Baldwin, and the Democrat establishment bears responsibility for enabling the vanity and self-delusion of the Bidens.”
