Gretchen Whitmer says it's hard to take 'Republican criticism' about Kamala Harris 'seriously'

DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE: Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer said that it is difficult to "seriously" accept Republican criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democrats' 2024 presidential nominee in place of President Joe Biden.

"It is hard to take the Republican criticism seriously because one day it’s ‘Joe Biden shouldn’t be running.’ The next day it’s ‘well he should be running.’ Give me a break," Whitmer said when asked by Fox News about the GOP criticism.

Joe Biden made his move amid mounting pressure from within the Democratic Party 

In a stunning declaration on Sunday, July 21, Joe Biden backed his vice president and called off his 2024 reelection contest against former president Donald Trump. Biden took action in response to growing pressure from Democrats to withdraw following his appalling performance in the first presidential debate with Trump last month.

Barack and Michelle Obama endorsed Kamala Harris

A wave of Democratic governors, senators, House members, and other party leaders endorsed Harris after the beleaguered president gave his immediate support.

The vice president declared on Monday night, July 22, that she had secured her party's nomination by winning the support of most of the nearly 4,000 delegates to the Democratic National Convention, which takes place next month. The last two prominent party figures to support the vice president were former president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama on Friday, July 26.

Harris has raised an astounding $129 million in funds since Biden's announcement, her campaign announced on Thursday morning, July 25.

Republicans charge that the process has been anything but democratic

Republicans have accused the process of being anything but democratic. They have cited Biden's own statements to support their claims. The president had stated time and again that he should continue in the 2024 race because of the 14 million votes he received in this year's Democratic presidential primary.

"The voters – and the voters alone – decide the nominee of the Democratic Party," he emphasized in a letter on July 8. "Not the press, not the pundits, not the big donors, not any selected group of individuals, no matter how well intentioned," he added.

Donald Trump called the move 'an undemocratic move'

During a Charlotte, North Carolina, rally on Wednesday, July 24, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump referred to the Democratic national ticket's switch at the top as "an undemocratic move." "These are nasty people, the Democrats," Trump argued, according to the outlet. 

Moreover, Republican Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton claimed in a social media post this week that "Joe Biden succumbed to a coup by Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, and Hollywood donors, ignoring millions of Democratic primary votes."

Gretchen Whitmer says Joe Biden stepping down from 2024 race 'was a surprise'

Gretchen Whitmer admitted that Joe Biden's declaration "was a surprise to me. I was co-chair," while speaking to Fox News on behalf of Harris on Thursday, July 25, at her third and last campaign stop in the swing state of New Hampshire. 

"But by the same token, I think it was the right decision and that’s why we have a vice president. Kamala Harris has been his number two for four years. No one should be surprised that he steps away, that she’s the one to step into the breach," the governor emphasized.

Gretchen Whitmer's name has repeatedly come up as Kamala Harris' deputy

Gretchen Whitmer's name has surfaced several times this week as a possible running mate for Kamala Harris, along with the names of other prominent Democratic Party figures.

However, the governor reiterated "I am not a part of the process. I made it very clear that I am committed to fulfilling my term as governor in Michigan, and so I’m not going anywhere. I think I can be an even better ally to a Harris administration on the ground in Michigan."

Gretchen Whitmer said 'US is ready for two women to run the nation'

Gretchen Whitmer did, however, assert that the United States is prepared for two women to run for office. "Of course, America can have two women on a national ticket. We’ve had two men since the dawn of time. Women can lead as we’ve shown in many states where you’ve had great women leaders," she emphasized, adding "Women know how to get things done. So two women would be better than one."

Whitmer, to cheers from the crowd of a couple of hundred party activists at her final stop of the day, highlighted that she "was grateful and honored to be a co-chair of the Biden campaign. I am similarly grateful and honored to be a co-chair of the Harris campaign."

Internet agrees with GOP's charges after Joe Biden's shocking announcement 

Netizens agreed with the Republicans as they criticized the Democrats for forcing Joe Biden to step down from the race and possibly replacing him with Kamala Harris in the most 'undemocratic' way possible. One X user tweeted, "When you're 'candidate' has never received a single vote to be the candidate that's the most undemocratic & un-American thing you could possibly do." 

Another added, "Totally true ... Democratic party not using democratic way to choose their nominee." "Kamala Harris didn’t receive a single vote in the primary. This is undemocratic as can be," echoed one more user.  

"They have no problem undermining democracy when it suits them, pushing their agendas with zero accountability. Whitmer's dismissal of these serious concerns is infuriating. Instead of addressing the real issues, she mocks them. This arrogance and disregard for democratic principles are exactly why people are losing faith in the system," opined one. 

"Apparently, nullifying the votes of over 14 million people who chose a canadate and replacing them with a backroom chosen canadate is totally 'democratic'," remarked someone else. 

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