‘That last debate ruined him’: Western Pa. residents react to Biden bowing out of race

By MICHAEL DIVITTORIO, JOYCE HANZ, MEGAN SWIFT and JEFF HIMLER Trib Total Media

President Joe Biden halting his presidential campaign and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris shocked some and came as no surprise to others in Western Pennsylvania who spoke with TribLive on Sunday.

“I don’t think he has it in him for another four years,” said Scott Wolfe of New Kensington.

Calls for Biden to step aside as the Democratic Party’s nominee had gained momentum over the past several weeks.

Wolfe said the need for a new candidate became apparent after Biden’s performance at the presidential debate June 27.

“That last debate ruined him,” Wolfe said. “I’m not surprised. I kind of wish he wouldn’t because I like Trump.”

Wolfe’s ex-wife, Shelly Wolfe, agreed with Biden’s decision.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea that Biden dropped out,” she said. “He was unwell to take care of our country. I don’t know who can, but I hope someone can do the job.”

Scott Wolfe believes Harris will be more of a challenge for Trump with some voters eager to elect the first woman president. He also expects the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade will become a bigger campaign issue.

Savannah Vilasack, 33, of Allegheny Township was initially speechless Sunday afternoon as she first heard the news of Biden’s campaign ending from a TribLive reporter.

“I’m liberal, and I’m shocked,” she said. “I thought he would continue. I wish he wouldn’t have dropped out.”

Vilasack cares for her disabled mother and said she’s worried about potential cuts to federal programs if Trump is reelected.

“I’m so scared and worried Trump will get in again,” Vilasack said.

Vilasack expressed further concerns over Biden’s endorsement of Harris.

“Is she really going to do the job? Biden was our best choice,” Vilasack said.

‘Absolutely shocked’

Emma Conte just graduated from Burrell High School, where she said she became interested in politics.

“I was absolutely shocked,” Conte said as she dined at Bakery Square in Pittsburgh’s East End. “I just didn’t think he would do that.”

Conte, 18, of New Kensington, said she believes Trump will end up winning the election.

“I know that Trump was getting a lot of support after getting shot,” she said, referring to the assassination attempt that wounded Trump on July 13 during a rally in Butler County. “He just kind of took the Republican Party by storm, and a lot of people are backing him now.”

As of now, Conte isn’t registered to vote. Regardless, she hasn’t decided on a preferred candidate for November. She said she could see California Gov. Gavin Newsom taking Biden’s place on the ballot.

“I can’t think of a lot she’s done, and I mean I follow the political world pretty well,” she said of Harris. “I can’t see people … backing Kamala at all, honestly.”

Conte said the news coming now will upset a lot of people’s votes ahead of the election.

“I hope there’s a candidate that can relate to the Gen Z and the Gen X and the millennials now,” she said. “Our generation is going to need someone who’s a lot younger.”

Karin Frenchek of Salem Township is a registered Democrat but said she votes for the best person for the job.

She said it was the best thing for the country for Biden to drop his reelection bid.

“It’s not a Democrat or Republican thing, it’s a respect thing,” she said, “so that others can maintain respect for him.”

She said Trump is looking like a stronger candidate now, but is waiting to see who will be nominated in place of Biden to top the Democratic presidential ballot.

As for Vice President Kamala Harris as a fallback choice for the Democratic nomination, Frenchek said, ” I think she would be a strong candidate, but I don’t know that much about her. I can’t say I would vote for her.”

Mark Biwojno, an independent from Pittsburgh, said he didn’t think Biden should have withdrawn from the race “It looks really bad, an old guy getting pushed out while he had COVID by his own party,” he said. “He’s in his 80s; that doesn’t mean he’s incompetent.”

He believes it was a disastrous move by the Democratic party.

“They’re probably going to lose because of it,” Biwojno said.” I didn’t want to see another Biden-Trump election, but I didn’t want to see Biden drop out.”

‘Good riddance’

Nick Cichello of Brackenridge said Biden dropping out presents a host of other problems for the country.

“It makes me a little nervous,” Cichello said. “I think either way now it’s easier for Trump to get in, whether Joe Biden was running or if Kamala Harris was running.

“I think Harris would completely ruin everything here. … I’m going to vote for Trump because I’m sick of going in the store and everything being expensive.

“I think (Biden) was forced to do it. So, I’m not really surprised.”

Amber Sylanski of Apollo said Biden is not cognitively competent to currently run the country, let alone for another four years. She said she believes the president’s “mental health” is deteriorating.

“I know he’s aging and that happens with old age,” Sylanski said. “I don’t agree with some of the things that he focuses on. He’s funding wars instead of doing anything good.”

Sylanski said Trump’s road to the White House is easier with Biden out of the race, and she supports the former president because he says what is on his mind with no filter.

“He cares about us and making things right,” Sylanski said. “A lot of people never really liked how outspoken and vulgar he is, but I think that’s my favorite thing about him. … If he disagrees with something, he has no problem saying it.”

Leechburg resident Olen Zack said he didn’t think Biden would actually drop out of the race, but added “good riddance.”

Zack had only recently read the news about Biden on social media as he headed into a restaurant.

“I don’t think we’re losing anything. I’m for Trump the whole way,” Zack said.

‘Somewhere in the middle’

Danny Elias, a registered independent, said he was not surprised by Biden’s decision.

“I kind of saw the writing on the wall,” said Elias, 24, of Shadyside. “I had a feeling it was going to happen soon.”

Though he’s not a Biden supporter, he said he’s not a Trump supporter either.

“I’m somewhere in the middle,” said Elias, who didn’t vote in the last election. “I didn’t think either option was representative of what I wanted to see.”

Since he grew up in California, Elias said he could see Newsom taking Biden’s place, but Elias said he’s not that big of a fan of the California governor either.

“I don’t know if there’s anyone, to be honest, that I can see replacing him and making me want to vote for the Democrats,” he said.

As of now, Elias said he’s not sure if he will vote in the Nov. 5 general election.

“I hope for younger people running our country — I hope for more respect,” he said.

Elias said he believes Biden’s news will be bad for Trump’s campaign.

“I think Trump was stronger when Biden was running,” he said.

As someone of Arab descent, Elias said he’s been disappointed with how Biden has handled conflict in the Middle East and the Israeli offensive in Gaza.

Israel’s assault, in retaliation for a devastating attack by Hamas and its abduction of hostages, has caused mass civilian casualties.

“But I know that Trump wouldn’t be any better and possibly even worse,” he said.

He said he hopes the government gets better, but “it’s hard to have hope.”

“This is a humanitarian crisis,” Elias said. “You’re supporting a country based on your business relationship with them and not the fact that there are millions of innocent lives being taken.”

‘Inevitable’ decision

Nathan Eisner of East Liberty said he’s supporting Harris to replace Biden on the Democratic ticket.

“I think that anything else is going to be too much infighting — not enough unity before the election,” said Eisner, 28.

He said the timing of Biden’s announcement after the primary is “a shame,” as the Democratic Party has been running out of time to make a switch.

“I think it was becoming inevitable,” Eisner said. “At this point, I hope that it means that the Democratic Party can get their stuff in order.”

As a registered Democrat, he said he hopes Trump loses. And as of now, he can’t predict what the Biden news will mean for Trump’s campaign.

“If the Democrats can be more unified in their messaging, it might be reinvigorating,” Eisner said. “Biden was behind, so a change is maybe good for Democrats, bad for Trump.”

Carol Mailki of Allegheny Township also heard about Biden dropping out of the race from a TribLive reporter.

Mailki had been a bit off the-grid all weekend while at her camp in rural northern Pennsylvania.

She said she didn’t want to vote for Trump or Biden and plans not to vote in November.

“I am kind of surprised he dropped out. I thought he was gonna hang in there,” Mailki said.

Mailki added that Biden’s endorsement of Harris was expected.

“I think Harris has been running things. I’m assuming Biden’s not doing well, and he has COVID,” Mailki said.