Brooklyn Dems see Joe Biden ending reelection bid as ‘passing the torch’

New York pols largely hailed President Joe Biden’s decision Sunday to drop out of the race for a second term and endorse his Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him, capping off a month of wrangling over his mental fitness to campaign and serve following a disastrous debate performance in June.

The Democratic political class largely cast the president’s decision — made following weeks of pressure within his party — as one of selflessness in a bid to prevent Donald Trump from winning a second term, which the party has cast as a danger to American democracy.

“Joe Biden has not only been a great president and a great legislative leader but he is a truly amazing human being. His decision of course was not easy, but he once again put his country, his party, and our future first,” said Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader and New York’s senior senator. “Joe, today shows you are a true patriot and great American.”