MORE: What they're saying in the Lehigh Valley about Biden's stunning turn of events
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — For nearly a month, Aidan Levinson has watched uncomfortably as the pressure mounted on President Joe Biden.
Biden's disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump ignited fears the 81-year-old Biden wasn't up for a second term. Slowly and repeatedly, momentum turned against him as more and more of his allies publicly and privately called on him to leave the race.
Despite repeatedly saying he would not step off the ballot, Biden did just that Sunday.
While his decision may placate some members of his party, the Democratic Party does not know who its presidential candidate will be less than a month before it holds its convention in Chicago.
"I feel like I've aged five years in the last few weeks," said Levinson, 23, of Upper Milford Township.
He said he had not been clamoring for Biden to leave the ticket but respects his decision to step aside.
"I have believed in him for years, and for all the supporters who have been with him, this is a very reflective moment," said Levinson, who was a delegate for the virtual Democratic National Convention in 2020.
A convention surprise
Now, it will be up to party delegates like Levinson to decide who will be at the top of the Democratic ticket this November.
For the first time since 1968, delegates will arrive at the convention without a clear candidate. While initially pledged to Biden after he won Pennsylvania's April primary, Levinson and others are free to rally behind anyone for the nomination.
"I think she is absolutely amazing. Over the years, she has had an opportunity to lead in the White House, and I am looking forward to supporting her."Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk, an at-large delegate to the Democratic National Convention, on his support of Vice President Kamala Harris
Both Levinson and Lori McFarland, chairperson of the Lehigh County Democratic Committee and a fellow delegate, said Sunday they could see themselves throwing their support to Vice President Kamala Harris.
Biden has already endorsed her for the position, and she's an obvious choice as a national figure who's been campaigning for the ticket for months.
'She is the candidate'
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk, an at-large delegate, was more outgoing in his support for Harris, a former prosecutor and U.S. senator from California. He supported her presidential campaign in 2019, and she's only strengthened her credentials since then, he said.
"She is the candidate," Tuerk said. "I think she is absolutely amazing. Over the years, she has had an opportunity to lead in the White House, and I am looking forward to supporting her."
McFarland said it is essential that Democrats quickly rally behind someone capable of defeating Trump and U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, his vice-presidential nominee. The stakes are too high for anything else.
"We are trying to save democracy," McFarland said. "We need to fight an authoritarian, White Christian national takeover."
At this point, it's unclear who will fill the vice-presidential slot on the Democratic ticket.
Shapiro in the veepstakes?
While Gov. Josh Shapiro has been discussed as a future presidential candidate — state Sen. Lisa Boscola joked about him moving on to higher positions during his stop in South Bethlehem last week — all three delegates said the decision should be up to Harris.
"I have very good friends who are mayors in Michigan who are probably faced with similar conversations in their cities. I have friends who are mayors in Arizona who are probably having similar conversations," Tuerk said, referring to speculation that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer or U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, could be tapped.
"It’s up to the vice president. She is going to choose, and I trust her judgment."
For his part, Shapiro issued an endorsement of Harris early Sunday evening without any hint of the speculation swirling around him as a possible vice presidential running mate.
"The best path forward for the Democratic Party is to quickly unite behind Vice President Harris and refocus on winning the presidency," Shapiro said. "The contrast in this race could not be clearer and the road to victory in November runs right through Pennsylvania — where this collective work began."
Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District delegates to the 2024 Democratic National Convention are:
- Leslie Altieri, former candidate for Pennsylvania's 138th House District;
- Carmen Bell, a Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee member;
- Julian Guridy, staff to state Sen. Nick Miller, D-Lehigh/Northampton;
- Fadia Halma, regional director for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (Rules Committee delegate)
- Aidan Levinson, U.S. Senate intern and political activist;
- Lori McFarland, chair of the Lehigh County Democratic Committee;
- Matt Tuerk, mayor of Allentown (At-large delegate);
- Baron Vanderburg, former candidate for Palmer Township supervisor and a Muhlenberg College administrator;
- Anne Wakabayaski, political consultant.
