People in Biden's hometown weigh in on his decision to drop out of presidential race

(22 Jul 2024)

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4507542

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Scranton, Pennsylvania - 22 July 2024
1. Wide, building with tower
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Boylan, Local Resident:
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"I think it was a smart move and a smart decision on his part to step aside and kind of let somebody younger, more vigorous go up against somebody like Donald Trump"
3. Closer shot of tower
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Boylan, Local Resident:
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"I think he's probably being pushed out, which kind of makes me a little bit sad. I think he's a good man. I think he's a good father. I think he was a very good leader. But I do kind of also agree that his, his time has come and it's time to step aside and let somebody, somebody rise within those ranks."
5. Cars drive through Biden Street intersection
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Gerardo Cedeno, Visiting Scranton:
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"He's not in shape whatsoever to be making the presidential calls. So for what it is, I personally think it's a good thing. I can only hope that, you know, the Democratic Party finds, someone who's of a better fit."
7. Sign: Biden street
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Jennifer Aglialoro, Local Resident:
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"I'm really, I'm shocked. But I am also very concerned about his health and well-being, and I feel like, I don't know if anybody's really taking that seriously. I feel like they need to really look at that, because I don't think that he. I don't think that he has everything together that he had, you know, four years ago."
9. Pan, houses on street
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Jennifer Aglialoro, Local Resident:
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"I think that it's the right move for him. I definitely do. I don't think he has another four years in him, to be able to be the president, but I didn't expect them to do this now."


STORYLINE:
President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he is dropping his reelection bid against Donald Trump, in a social media post that sent political shockwaves around the country and threw an element of turmoil into the election just months before voters go to the polls.

Biden's decision came on the heels of a poor debate performance that prompted many rank-and-file Democratic lawmakers to urge him to withdraw from the race. The president said he will address the nation later this week “in more detail about my decision.”

Biden threw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democrats' new candidate, and she vowed to “earn and win” the nomination.

Republicans are calling on him to leave office as well, saying that if he is unable to run, then he’s unable to serve as president.

Kristine Stoll is a Trump backer from Dunmore, Pennsylvania, which is next door to Scranton, where Biden was born. She said Biden isn’t mentally stable enough to run the country.

“It’s about time, he should have dropped out a long time ago,” said Stoll, 56.

Eric Boylan, from Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, which is near Scranton, is a Democrat but he doesn't completely disagree with Stoll.

"I think it was a smart move and a smart decision on his part to step aside and kind of let somebody younger, more vigorous go up against somebody like Donald Trump," he said.

Jennifer Aglialoro, also a Democrat and a local resident, said she doesn't think Biden "has everything together that he had four years ago," but, she said, the timing shocked her.

"I don't know if it's going to be Kamala Harris, I don't know if they had somebody in mind," she said.