OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Democrats had mixed emotions following President Joe Biden’s decision to end his campaign and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris.Biden’s announcement Sunday came after a disastrous June 26 debate in Atlanta in which Biden couldn’t finish thoughts, got mixed up and didn’t use up his allotted time.Supporters chalked it up to a cold and a bad debate, but questions mounted about his health in the days following as Biden continued to appear confused on titles in his public addresses.“I am sad for Joe given the fact that he’s done an extraordinary job,” said former Gov. David Walters, a national committeeman who serves on the Democratic National Committee. “And I’m also frankly excited that we have the opportunity to, in an open and transparent way, select new leaders and really energize the party because I think the party was, you know, in remorse if you will, for two or three weeks here (as) the President was trying to decide what he needed to do.”It will be a tough campaign, but Harris’ prosecutorial instincts will kick in, helped by her elocution, ability to make counter arguments and energy, Walters said.“I think she will automatically notch up the vote among African American voters,” Walters said. “I think the level of enthusiasm will go up. I think we’ll see much higher turnouts.”As a result, a lot more eyes will be on the Democratic National Convention because of the uncertainty of it all, Walters said. The convention is Aug. 19-22 in Chicago.“I think we will have an opportunity to spin out of that as a very energized team trying to defeat Donald Trump from getting back to the White House,” Walters said.Former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, a Democratic Party stalwart and Biden supporter, said the president made the right decision for his family, the party and the country.He believes that with Harris at the top of the ticket, it will help down ballot candidates and energize the party.Rep. Regina Goodwin, DTulsa, is a DNC delegate.She said she supported Biden and believes he was put under “undeserved extreme pressure.”But she will now support Harris, who she said is a better candidate for the top of the ticket than Trump, a convicted felon.In 2016 and 2020, Trump carried all 77 Oklahoma counties in his quest for the White House.State law requires that the nominee’s name be submitted by Aug. 21, a day before ...
