Former President Biden chief of staff Ron Klain does not approve of what Democratic leaders and donors did in ousting the president from his own re-election campaign.
Klain appeared on CNN on Wednesday and, while he wished Vice President Harris well in her 2024 campaign, he complained to host Anderson Cooper about the party's internal pressure campaign to get Biden to drop out of his reelection bid.
“I think that was wrong,” Klain said, arguing that Biden had fairly secured the nomination through the democratic process and was determined to win back the White House.
PELOSI ADDRESSES WHETHER THERE IS A WAY BACK TO FRIENDSHIP WITH BIDEN AFTER DEMOCRATS' PRESSURE CAMPAIGN TO DROP OUT OF ELECTION
Former Biden chief of staff Ron Klain has called the Democratic pressure campaign to oust Biden from his re-election bid “misguided.” (Screenshot/CNN)
The conversation began with Klain expressing support for Harris as a potential Democratic presidential candidate. He praised Biden for his decision to endorse her, though he ultimately expressed regret at the outcome of Biden's campaign.
Cooper urged him to do so, noting that the party appears much more united with Harris as the nominee. “Well, I agree that enthusiasm has increased,” Klain responded, adding, “There is a lot of support around the vice president. I’m very happy to see that. It’s hard-earned support that she deserves.”
He then aired his grievances. “But I think the president was pressured by public calls from elected officials to step down, by donors who called on him to step down. And I think that was wrong.”
Since Biden’s disastrous debate in June, prominent Democratic Party leaders including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., have reportedly lobbied hard for Biden to drop out of the race.
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President Joe Biden during the White House Creator Economy Conference in the Indian Treaty Room of the White House in Washington, DC, U.S., Wednesday, August 14, 2024. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The former Biden official acknowledged that Biden had the final say on whether or not to step down, and indicated that he respected Harris' decision to run in his place. “I think he ultimately made the decision and he made the right decision in saying, 'If I'm going to leave the race, I think the vice president should take over.'”
Cooper pressed Klain, asking why it was wrong to pressure Biden to leave. Klain clarified: “I think it's not wrong, it's immoral, but I think it was unfortunate because I think the president had won the nomination fairly. 14 million people had voted for him and the vice president as vice president.”
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“But again, all of that is in the past, Anderson. He decided to retire. He decided to support the vice president. His campaign is going well. We have a better chance than ever of defeating Donald Trump this fall and electing an experienced, talented and smart president to lead the country for the next four years.”
