President Joe Biden
AP
Suburban Democrats said Sunday they are grateful to President Joe Biden for his accomplishments in office, but are gearing up for the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris — or whoever the party nominates for president — against former President Donald Trump.
“I’m grateful to President Biden, who has been one of the best presidents our country has ever had,” said Lauren Beth Gash, chair of the Lake County Democrats and founder of the 10th Congressional District Democratic organization.
Biden’s announcement Sunday that he withdrawing from the race leaves the Democrats without a presidential candidate, likely until next month’s party convention in Chicago.
However, Biden publicly endorsed his vice president, and Gash quickly got behind her.
“Kamala Harris is incredibly qualified and she will be ready to be president on day one, having served as vice president for the previous four years,” said Gash, a member of the Democratic National Convention Rules Committee.
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, wrote on X (the former Twitter), “Thank you Mr. President for the incredible work you and (Vice President) Harris have achieved on behalf of the American people.”
Reaction from the Republican camp included a blistering statement from Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi.
“Today’s announcement is the culmination of years of lies from the Biden White House and Democrats shaming anyone who questioned the fitness of President Biden,” she wrote.