Biden-Harris campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond told ABC News that President Biden is not debating Democrat challengers because he is already the “Democratic nominee” for the presidency in 2024.

(Video Credit: Fox News)

Richmond declared this on Wednesday despite the fact that not a single vote has been cast yet to determine who the nominee is.

“President Biden is the Democratic nominee, along with Vice President Harris,” he asserted. “And if you look at both parties, when they have an incumbent president, that incoming president participates in no debates and there’s no primary on our side when there’s a primary.”

“But the key to it is the fact that we’ve already endorsed President Biden,” the Democratic National Committee (DNC) senior adviser proclaimed.

He further went on to claim that no “party has done it” going “back to [Presidents] Reagan and Ford,” and added, “It’s just something that has been well settled.”

The DNC canceled the debates and coronated Biden as the nominee of its party without a single vote being cast. The party should be forever renamed: The Anti-Democratic Party. https://t.co/4z4DHzlEjG

— Ryan Knight ☭ (@ProudSocialist) August 24, 2023

“And it’s just another issue that people want to use as a distraction from us focusing on still delivering for the American people and making sure that we address the issues and the challenges they face,” Richmond contended.

It is true that traditionally the controlling party typically supports the president for reelection and does not hold presidential debates. Given the unpopularity of Biden and his cratered poll numbers, questions about his physical and cognitive health, and the fact he is mired in corruption allegations, it would seem that an exception should be made this time.

Surprised he didn’t just declare him next president…..

— Alez (@PirateAlez) August 24, 2023

It is not unusual for an incumbent president to be challenged from within their own party. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson are both challenging Biden but Democrats are refusing to let them campaign against him.

On both sides of the political aisle, many still call for primary elections against a sitting president. They want to hear the stances of the candidates when a president is up for reelection and have the opportunity to choose who represents them.

In a non-coincidental move, Biden’s campaign co-chair made the announcement on the day of the first Republican primary debate.

No one was surprised on X and users sounded off over it:

This is the democracy we’re supposed to be protecting?

— Doctor Where (Do We Go from Here?) Ⓥ (@dragonsmoke_15) August 24, 2023

Some “democracy,” huh?

— Jack_NotJack (@Jack_NotJack) August 24, 2023

And this is why i don’t think I’ll be able to vote for him again.

— Destin Gerek (@destingerek) August 24, 2023

gee, I wonder why I have ZERO desire to go bust my ass for this party EVER again.

— Church of the Almighty Pit Bull (@blu_noz_pitbull) August 24, 2023

From the party that claims they want to “save democracy”.

— We Need Policies, Not Meaningless Platitudes (@only4bernie16) August 24, 2023

Unbelievable. Biden’s terrible. The decline and fall of the American Empire.

— Eric Deming (@EricDeming1) August 24, 2023

Yikes. That’s extremely antidemocratic. No one has voted for him this go around. Most Democrats do not even want him to run again. @CedricRichmond

— Kitty • ♿️‍️‍⚧️ (@district12kitty) August 24, 2023

Then what the hell are primaries for

— McKenna☘️✊ (@singlemomsays) August 24, 2023

Never vote for a candidate that won’t debate their opponents. Never. Do. It.

— Not George Orwell’s Ghost (@orwell_not) August 24, 2023

I get that unity is important, especially when we’re facing strong opposition. But don’t we owe it to ourselves, and to the voters, to make sure we’re putting our best foot forward? Debates are a chance for candidates to show voters who they think can lead best. By skipping this…

— Kareem T. – Summa Laude (@kareemthegemini) August 24, 2023

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