Sen. Joe Manchin joins calls for Biden to drop out of the presidential race

Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., on Sunday joined growing calls for President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race.

Manchin, who left the Democratic Party in May but continues to caucus with Democrats, said that during the first week after the president’s poor June debate performance, he initially thought Biden “needed time to evaluate and make a decision if he was going to at that time.”

“And then I thought, well, we’d hear from my colleagues who are in very difficult, challenging areas of the country, whether it be in Congress, as far as their districts, or in the states, as far as my senators, and they’re speaking out now,” he said in an interview on ABC News’ “This Week.” “And then when you see the donor class, basically, speaking up and saying that they went a different direction, if you will.”

Manchin said he believes that if Biden exits the race now, it would allow him to address a series of key issues and his departure would give him the chance to “show the rest of the world the orderly transfer of power from the superpower of the world.”

“He will go down with a legacy unlike many people, as one of the finest and truly a [patriotic] American,” Manchin said. “So, with that, I come with a heavy heart to think the time has come for him to pass the torch to a new generation.”