Local Democrats Not Surprised By Biden Move

Upper Cumberland Democratic leaders said they are not surprised by President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 Presidential race.

Cumberland County Democratic Chair Ann Quillen said the party has reacted quickly to rally behind Kalama Harris in the hours since Sunday’s announcement. Quillen said there had been growing concerns about the Biden’s health.

“I think that it had reached the point where it was not a surprise,” Quillen said. “you know it has been such a roller coaster ever since that debate when he was just not together and it was not a good night.”

Jackson County Democratic Chair Natasha Deane said the Tennessee party reacted quickly to Biden’s decision.

“Tennessee was actually the first state in the whole country to report back to the national party unanimous support for Biden’s decision to pass the baton to Kamala Harris,” Deane said.

Deane said she and the party will now focus on encouraging people to vote in the upcoming election.

“We are all in for getting out to vote here in Jackson County and the Upper Cumberland,” Deane said. “We are doing everything we can to talk to people and encourage them that now more than ever it is important to cast your vote.”

Biden the first sitting president not to seek re-election since Lyndon Johnson in 1968. Kamala Harris received enough delegate support within the first day to be the presumptive Democratic nominee.

“Everything is in place,” Quillen said. “I’m sure that she will bring in some of her closest staffers, but all of the people on the staff were offered the ability to stay on and continue working. The people I’ve been working with are still there and they are excited, although the young man I work with the most is very disappointed, and it is sad to see President Biden have to leave under these circumstances.”

The Democratic Convention takes place August 19-22 in Chicago. Quillen said it will be a busy time leading up to the gathering.

“We got to work,” Quillen said. “That is what we do, we have to. Here in Tennessee, it is essential. It is hard to do, I do a lot of work in rural Tennessee. It is really hard to get people out there to talk about our candidates and what they stand for.”