First prominent Democrat lines up behind Kamala Harris to replace Biden on 2024 ticket

Former Democratic Congressman Tim Ryan is calling on Vice President Kamala Harris to replace President Biden on the Democratic ticket, warning that the stakes are too high for the president to continue his candidacy.

Ryan, who himself briefly ran for president with the Democratic Party during the 2020 primaries, was the first presidential candidate to endorse Biden in the last election.

But in an op-ed published Tuesday in Newsweek, the former congressman wrote that Harris should be the Democratic nominee for 2024.

“Joe Biden’s debate performance was deeply disturbing. But it’s not just about a 90-minute debate and a terrible performance,” Ryan wrote. “This election should be about generational change, something I’ve been screaming about for over a year now.”

Ryan left Congress after losing the 2022 Senate race in Ohio to Republican J.D. Vance.

While some elected Democrats are sounding the alarm behind closed doors about the approaching election, Ryan is one of the few elected Democrats who has spoken out publicly so far about the need for change after the president’s poor performance in debates.

Ryan told Newsweek that Biden “promised” to build a bridge to the next generation.

“I liked the idea of ​​him defeating former President Donald Trump, stabilizing the country, and passing the torch to the next generation,” he wrote.

“Unfortunately, that bridge collapsed last week. It was heartbreaking to watch Joe Biden’s fight. And we have to find a new path forward,” he continued.

Vice President Kamala Harris said Biden had a slow start in the debate but a strong finish

Ryan argued that the current vice president is the best choice to replace Biden and praised her televised performances after the debate.

“Those who questioned her abilities in recent years were rebuked by a polished, confident leader who communicated clearly in the throes of a political meltdown of epic proportions. I was thrilled to see it. Our Vice President was masterful,” he wrote.

Ryan also argued that Harris can motivate the electorate and govern effectively.

He argued that she is ready for the job and would deliver the Democratic message more convincingly than Biden, especially on abortion rights, and said that it could be helpful for Democratic congressional candidates in swing districts to have her at the top of the ticket.

At the same time, Ryan dismissed concerns that her candidacy would pose a greater risk than Biden’s against Trump.

An average poll of Trump versus Harris shows the former president with a lead of more than six points over the vice president. However, no recent polls have been conducted on this potential matchup.

Vice President Harris takes the stage at a rally in Nevada on June 28, the day after the presidential debate

Since the debate, Harris has been vigorously defending her boss.

The vice president appeared on television almost immediately after the debate, where she admitted that Biden had a “slow” start to the debate but that he actually finished it strong.

Harris has repeatedly defended his leadership skills and argued that he is fighting on behalf of the American people.

She also went on the campaign trail in Nevada for a rally after the president’s failed performance, where she warned against giving Trump a second term.

Ryan called for a new generation of leaders and wanted Harris to lead the race, but he also praised Biden’s work during his first term.

The former congressman said Biden was the ““The most pro-union, pro-industry president I’ve ever been.”