7-22-2024 1:27pm

Otero County Reaction to Kamala Harris as Presidential Contender

Chris Edwards Editor

Locally, Otero County's Congressional Representative Gabe Vasquez which represents NMCD2 and US Senator Heinrich had called on president Biden to step aside in his quest for reelection On Sunday he made and announced the difficult decision and endorsed his Vice-President Kamala Harris to take over the reigns of the candidacy and to become the Democratic presidential contender against Donald Trump.

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez said “President Biden gave a lifetime of distinguished service to the country we love. I commend the president for his decades of serving working Americans and serving people, not CEOs and corporations. I commend his decision to step out of the race and put his country first.”

The Democrat who represents New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District endorsed Harris, saying, “Vice President Kamala Harris is the leader who can bridge the divide in our country and move our nation forward.”

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, a Democrat, issued a statement Sunday lauding Biden’s leadership during his tenure as president.

“With his decision today to put country over self, the President has secured his legacy. I commend him for his selflessness, honor, and integrity,” Heinrich said in the statement. “From reducing the cost of prescription drugs, expanding health care for veterans, passing historic climate legislation, making once-in-a-generation investments in infrastructure, to securing the most meaningful gun safety measures in three decades, President Biden has left his mark on the greatest nation on earth.”

Heinrich also announced his endorsement Sunday for Harris to run on the November ballot.

“Vice President Kamala Harris is an extraordinary leader with a proven track record of getting things done. As her colleague, I saw her commitment to fighting for working families up close,” Heinrich’s other statement said. “Her experience, vision, and unwavering resolve make her the ideal candidate to unite our party and lead our nation forward. I’m proud to support her candidacy and confident she will bring our country together and build a brighter future for everyone.”

U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján, a Democrat, also issued a statement about Biden not seeking re-election.

“President Biden has devoted his life to serving the American people and putting working families first. I know President Biden, and I respect him, his character, and his strong leadership. There is no one like him,” Luján said in the statement. “ His legacy will be among the strongest of any American president. I know his decision to step aside was not taken lightly.”

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statement shortly after the announcement referring to Biden’s leadership as strong and resolute.

“His stellar record includes guiding Americans out of a deadly pandemic, presiding over a historic economic recovery, and restoring dignity and respect to the Oval Office,” Lujan Grisham said in the statement. “While President Biden is an indisputably great leader, his decision to withdraw from the presidential race at this fraught moment in U.S. history is in the best interest of the Democratic Party and the nation.”

The local Republican party leadership was upbeat in their take that "Trump will easily beat Kamala Harris" and questioned if Biden was not of the condition to run for reelection maybe he should step down as president, immediately. The state party issued the following statement:

"New Mexico Democrats have been betrayed and lied to by the Democratic Party. Democrats have spent 3 1/2 years claiming Trump will destroy democracy. Now, by forcing Biden out without any legal framework to do so, Democrats have shown they have no respect for democracy and that their criticisms of Trump are simply projection and gaslighting.

"In a desperate bid to hold onto power, the elites have managed to undermine the votes of 111,049 New Mexicans who supported Joe Biden in this year's primary, only to install a new ticket. New Mexico Democrats have been cheated of their voice and the democratic process.

"Yesterday, we saw reports of big donors refusing to fund candidates, including Senator Martin Heinrich, if they didn't call on Biden to drop out of the race. What has become increasingly clear is the Democratic Party favors the opinions of billionaires and party elites over the voices of New Mexicans. This is not the party of democracy. There is nothing White House insiders didn't know about Biden's fitness and ability to lead for at least a year, which they know now. They simply couldn't hide it from the public any longer.

"Today, Biden's handlers also announced that they endorse Kamala Harris for president. Kamala Harris would be just as ineffective as President as she was in her role as the so-called Border Czar. What is clear is Republicans in New Mexico and nationwide are strongly united and enthusiastic about electing President Trump and every Republican up and down the ballot to get our state and country back on a prosperous and secure path."

AlamogordoTownNews.org saught comment from the Democratic Party of Otero County but was reminded that the local Otero County leadership as an active chapter is still suspended pending mediation efforts among its leadership, and an ingoing internal trial against a former member of leadership. We were then referred to the state issued statement that fully supported the decision of President Biden and unanimously endorsed Kamala Harris as the potential nominee to succeed Biden and win the presidency in November.

When visiting socisl media pages far right leaning individuals are already propagating their views that Kamala Harris is not qualified to be president and conspiracy theorists run amuck. On the extreme left social media posts question if there is more to Bidens withdrawal than meets the eye.

Polls show most New Mexicans support Kamala Harris as the candidate fir president and msny local leaders arw energized by the transition to a younger and female candidate.