Manchin says Biden must ‘pass the torch’

Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) became the fifth senator to call on President Biden to leave the presidential race on Sunday, urging the president to be a “uniter” and “pass the torch” to another Democratic candidate.

“I came to the decision with a heavy heart that I think it’s time to pass the torch to a new generation,” Manchin told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” on Sunday.

“I want him to be the president in the last five months of this presidency of his term, to do what he can do is unite our country, to calm down the rhetoric and be able to focus attention to peace in the world,” Manchin said.

“Campaigning, I’ve been to statewide campaigns many times, it’s an unbelievable challenge to anybody, to anybody physically, mentally, every way, shape and form. And right now, the country and the world needs our President Joe Biden, but the compassion he’s always had and the ability to bring people together to use all of his forces and energy towards that.”

Manchin also appeared on ABC’s “This Week,” telling Martha Raddatz that he’s concerned about Biden’s ability to go through with a full presidential reelection campaign despite confidence in his ability to lead.

“I think he has that ability,” Manchin told ABC. “You know, it’s the total of a campaign … is unbelievable. I can tell you on a statewide campaign — it’s relentless. I can only imagine on a national campaign.”

The former Democrat, who left the party in May, also advocated for an “open process” in the coming weeks to select a replacement.

“I think that we have a lot of talent on the bench, a lot of good people,” Manchin told CNN, adding that his top picks include Govs. Andy Beshear (D-Ky.) and Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.)

“I’ve got two tremendous governors right next door to me, and Andy Beshear in Kentucky and Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania, who are operating with legislators either evenly split or completely opposite of their party affiliation,” he said. “They haven’t divided their state. They haven’t made you pick a side and demonize the other side. They brought people together. This is what an open process would do.”

The senator said an open process and selecting a younger candidate could encourage voters who have grown skeptical of establishment Democrats to return to the party.

“They have to win me back,” he added.

Sens. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) have also called on Biden to leave the race, as have numerous House members.

But Biden and his campaign have remained adamant that the president will be the Democratic nominee despite the rising calls from members of the party for him to step aside. 

“Joe Biden has made it more than clear: he’s in this race, and he’s in it to win it. Moreover, he’s the presumptive nominee, there is no plan for an alternative nominee,” Dan Kanninen, Biden campaign battleground states director, wrote in a memo released after the Republican National Convention.

Vice President Harris is considered a front-runner should Biden step aside, a decision that is expected to be reached this week.

The Biden campaign again doubled down on the president’s commitment to the race in a statement to The Hill on Sunday.

“While the majority of the Democratic caucus and the diverse base of the party continues to stand with the President and his historic record of delivering for their communities, we’re clear-eyed that the urgency and stakes of beating Donald Trump means others feel differently,” spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg said. “Unlike Republicans, we’re a party that accepts – and even celebrates – differing opinions, but in the end, we will absolutely come together to beat Donald Trump this November.”

Story was updated at 10:53 a.m. ET