Democratic candidates who have ambition for the presidency should back off from seeking the limelight and a spot at the top of the party’s ticket, former Alabama U.S. Senator and current media pundit Doug Jones said on Sunday.
As Democrats across the country begin to clear the field for Vice President Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden announced he would not seek a second term, Jones broadcasted his thoughts that, despite the totality of DNC delegates now being uncommitted, there should be no competition at the convention.
“But here we have a chance because of the momentum because of the infrastructure that has been built with the Biden-Harris team, because of all of the things that she has done. It is time that we rally around, I hope that Democrats across this country will both rally behind her and unify. We have got building up an extraordinary bench of talent in the Democratic Party,” Jones said.
“But now is not the time, in my view, to try to have those folks step up in such a short time with a convention only a month away.”
Jones’ call for an uncontested convention came shortly after Biden’s official endorsement of Harris to take his spot at the top of the ticket — and an initial clearing house of administrative changes to entitle Harris to Biden’s existing campaign architecture and resources.
“I would like to see all of the folks that we, again, extraordinary bench of talent, governors, senators, members of Congress, others that could step into the role of candidate as also stepped into the role of being President — but let’s hold off. I’m asking all of those folks who have eyes on that office who have the ambitions — hold off right now. Let’s rally around, and send a message to America, we are ready, we are the big tent, we are moving forward while the Republican Party has stuck in the past,” Jones said.
“I think he’s going to have more to say, and I bet he stays on the on the playing field.”
President Biden announced he would not seek reelection in a letter on Sunday, despite not appearing in public since July 17 as he undergoes treatments for Covid-19. He has no public events scheduled this week so far.
