Chattanooga area reacts to President Biden dropping out of election

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Americans are wondering what is next after President Joe Biden announced Sunday he is dropping out of the 2024 election.

We are also hearing from some local citizens who are reacting to President Biden dropping out of this race.

Everyone we spoke with agreed that President Biden should step down from this race, with some saying that he needs to resign altogether.

However, the thoughts on his prospective replacement, Vice President Kamala Harris, inspired much different reactions.

There were a wide range of opinions on how the Democratic Party should handle the nominating process, and on Vice President Harris herself.

“We have a specific procedure for nominating each party’s candidate and they’ve already had their primaries in the Democratic Party. So, to replace it now, it seems like it is usurping the democratic process, the electoral process,” said resident David Chong.

Another resident, Joshua Allen, said, “Hey you know, I like your commitment to not quitting, but I think there might be a better option. So to hear that he dropped out, and I think he also had Covid, I think it was a good sign of making sure this is done well.”

Chong, who moved to Chattanooga from California, said he was less than impressed with the Vice President while being her constituent in the Golden State as he said, “She was a very controversial official. She abused her office in many ways for political gain. From my understanding the people who were working with her had a really difficult time getting along with her.”

Others see upsides in a Harris candidacy, as Allen said, “If Vice President Kamala Harris is going to be the pick, I think it brings a youthfulness, an ability to be relatable to a lot of different demographics and age groups.”

Those that we spoke say that the remainder of the race calms down from the turmoil that we have seen over the past few weeks, but they are concerned that will not be the case. 

“I think it’s going to get a little bit more crazy before it gets calmer. It’s unprecedented what is going on,” said Allen.

Chong said, “My hope and prayer has been for the past eight years that we will move back into dignity and normalcy rather than increasing extremism from either party on either side.”

We also spoke with some others who didn’t want to go on camera.

Their opinions ranged from interest in the Vice President as a candidate, to how they just want things to return to normal.

Additionally, pollsters are also reacting to the potential of Vice President Harris taking over the Democratic ticket.

The Beacon Poll says she will likely not change the results in Tennessee, as former President holds a 30 point lead over President Biden.

They say while this won’t change the results in the Volunteer State, they say this is a sign the Democrats are reacting to recent polling that shows them trailing in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

While the odds on the betting market show the Vice President has a roughly 90 percent chance of being the nominee, things are not as certain for who could be her running mate.

“It is much more fluid, with nobody over 30 percent chance of winning, so it is really, really up in the air. The slight favorite at this point is Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. Obviously Pennsylvania is a must-win state. He’s a popular Democratic governor, considered moderate. But again, only a 27 percent chance. That means there’s a three-fourth’s chance that it’s somebody else,” said spokesperson Mark Cunningham for The Beacon Poll.

Cunningham adds the next Democrat behind Kamala is former first lady Michelle Obama with an 8 percent chance of being the nominee.

He added that President Trump right now holds a sizeable lead as the favorite to retake the White House.