West Virginia Governor Jim Justice (R-WV) has expressed regret over the Republican push to remove President Joe Biden from his position as the 2024 Democratic nominee. Justice, 73, believes that the effort to displace Biden has backfired and strengthened the Democratic Party.
In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Justice questioned the Republican strategy: “I don’t understand why we were so determined to push President Biden out of the way. He was a gift that kept on giving. Why did we work so hard to remove him?”
With Biden’s recent announcement that he will step aside as the Democratic nominee and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic campaign has gained momentum. Harris’s campaign raised $310 million last month, outpacing former President Donald Trump’s $139 million. This fundraising boost has helped Harris close the polling gap with Trump, who previously had a 3-point lead over Biden.
Justice acknowledged that Harris’s rise presents a tougher challenge for Republicans: “It’s going to be more difficult now,” he said. The governor also criticized the unsteady rollout of Trump’s vice presidential nominee, Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH), whose controversial remarks have been highlighted by Democrats.
Although Justice is supportive of Trump’s selection of Vance, he would have preferred former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo or former HUD Secretary Ben Carson as vice presidential picks. He stressed the importance of having a strong successor if anything were to happen to the president.
In recent days, speculation about Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV) re-registering as a Democrat to potentially replace Biden has surfaced. Justice suggested that Manchin’s recent actions are more about staying in the spotlight than actual political strategy. The deadline for Manchin to file as an independent candidate has passed, and Justice is expected to replace him in the Senate after winning the Republican primary against Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV). Justice will face Democratic challenger Glenn Elliott in the fall.
Justice, who has been West Virginia’s governor since 2017, believes he will be a valuable asset in the Senate, especially if Harris wins the presidency. He emphasized his commitment to addressing issues like inflation, crime, and government policies.
Despite facing scrutiny over his family businesses’ debts and unpaid mining fines, Justice remains confident in his ability to serve effectively. His family’s luxury resort, the Greenbrier Hotel, was recently put up for auction due to financial difficulties. Justice downplayed these challenges, focusing instead on his record and commitment to his state.
During the Republican National Convention last month, Justice’s English bulldog, Babydog, received more attention than he did, with the crowd’s enthusiastic response highlighting the governor’s connection with his supporters. Justice recounted humorous interactions with Secret Service agents who went out of their way to accommodate Babydog, reflecting on the positive aspects of his public life.
“People appreciate the little things,” Justice said, “and it makes us smile. This journey is tough enough, so why not find joy along the way?”
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