Watch the Digital Desk with Benjamin Melusky, Ph.D. in the video player.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — On Sunday, President Joe Biden released a statement announcing he was ending his bid for reelection.
Benjamin Melusky, Ph.D., Old Dominion University Associate Professor of Political Science, joined the Digital Desk to discuss the latest news. Watch the segment in the video player on this page.
Melusky discussed the reaction to the historical moment.
“We knew going into the weekend there were some signs,” Melusky said.
According to Melusky, signs included public and private calls for Biden to exit. Also, a campaign event in Ann Arbor, Michigan was canceled over the weekend, with First Lady Jill Biden having been scheduled to attend.
“He [Biden] was becoming more politically isolated by the day,” Melusky said, “COVID of course not helping that.”
Then, Sunday afternoon, the historic decision took place.
“It seems that this was very much, just the natural course of these actions,” Melusky said. “It was a pressure release as the president ultimately withdrew his nomination.”
Later Sunday, Biden announced his endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris to run.
Harris released a statement saying, “I am honored to have the president’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination.”
Monday morning, Harris made her first public appearance since Biden’s announcement. In an event at the White House for NCAA athletes, Harris spoke about Biden’s legacy. She did not speak about her own campaign.
In the last 24 hours, Harris’ team has raised more than $81 million, according to campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz.
On X, Harris wrote she was heading to Wilmington, Del. Monday afternoon to say hello to campaign staff.
Some Democratic leaders are waiting to announce support for a Democratic candidate.
“It’s not unexpected,” Melusky said. “You’ve seen amongst the media and social media, the president’s withdrawal is being framed as something, you’ve seen words like ‘courageous.’ They’re proud of the President for doing this.”
Melusky said politicians are trying to take control of the narrative and the framing.
“There is at least, on the opposition side, there’s an opposite framing going on where this is, he was forced out,” Melusky said. “You’re hearing some dissenters on the Democratic side and the Republican side trying to take advantage of it, saying it was a non-Democratic way.”
Monday afternoon, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) announced her support for Harris to be the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.
“Today, it is with immense pride and limitless optimism for our country’s future that I endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States,” Pelosi said in a statement.
The latest set of polling data shows Trump and Harris in a close race, in a hypothetical matchup for the 2024 presidential election.
“I always tell my students and tell people consider polling what we say, it’s not a forecast it’s a now cast,” Melusky said. “It’s right now, how people are thinking about the candidate in that moment, in that context.”
Melusky said we will have to wait a little bit to see how the context changes, and see what the polling data says.
“There will be a little bit of lag in the polling as it normalizes, and then we can start to see how she [Harris] really is going to matchup and also how she’ll match up if you have some third party candidates on the ballot,” Melusky said.
What’s to come?
On Wednesday, the Democratic National Committee Rules Committee will meet to discuss the framework to select a nominee.
Potential candidates for vice president have been raised across the news. Eyes are turning to who will join Harris if she is on the ticket.
“We’ve seen a lot of names short-listed of governors and senators that are either in swing states or they’re kind of like that, Joe Manchin, you’re a Democrat in a Republican state,” Melusky said. “You’re showing you can win in a more moderate context.”
According to the Associated Press, possible candidates include Kentucky governor Andy Beshear, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Az.) and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Watch the full Digital Desk segment in the video player on this page to hear more from Melusky.
Check back on WAVY.com for the latest updates.
