COLUMBUS, Ohio — Shockwaves were sent through the nation Sunday afternoon after President Joe Biden announced that he would be dropping out of the 2024 election race.
Political leaders from around the country took to social media in the hours following to react to Biden's decision and his subsequent endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris.
Dale Butland, a Democratic strategist and former Ohio chief of staff to the late Senator John Glenn, described this as "an earthquake."
"This is an earthquake that has no parallel in American history,” said Butland.
Butland says the Democrats just flipped the script.
"It's now the Republicans who have a nominee who's nearly 80 years old and makes unhinged comments and makes rambling speeches,” Butland said.
Republican strategist Terry Casey said the Republicans will probably raise the question of whether things could get even worse with Harris as president.
"Because Biden did have some roots as being more moderate in trying to reach out to the other side,” Casey said. “Coming out of California, her record as senator and other things is much more liberal than the mainstream Democrats.”
Butland has said he would like to see an open competition for the top of the ticket with the delegates choosing the nominee at the Democratic National Convention. However, he believes Harris would be a strong candidate.
"Kamala Harris was a district attorney and an attorney general for her state, and as a Democrat, I'd like nothing more than an election between a prosecutor and a convicted felon,” Butland said.
Casey wonders who her vice president would be.
"Because I've heard some names have said no they don't want to do that,” Casey said. “Maybe it's like getting on board with a new captain on the Titanic."
Harris released a statement Sunday afternoon thanking Biden for his endorsement and saying her "intention is to earn and win this nomination."
There is no word yet on who she would choose as her running mate.