‘We are confident in Donald Trump and JD Vance’: C.O. GOP official, others react to Biden’s withdrawal

(Update: Adding video, comments from local Democrats and Republicans)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- We're less than 100 days away from the Nov. 5 election and less than a month from the Democratic National Convention. With this weekend's historic decision by President Biden to step down from the presidential nomination, many are wondering if his and others' endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris is enough to beat Donald Trump.

Democratic political analyst and former state representative Judy Stiegler of Bend said Monday, "It's opened the door for unification and for the party to sort of come together and boost a candidate."

The vice chair of the Deschutes County GOP, Connie Whelchel, said she believes Biden's decision points to a larger issue. 

"It's very clear to those who pay attention and are able to critically think that Joe Biden is not fit to serve as a president of the United States, and he's not been fit for a while," Whelchel said. "This didn't come on just overnight. This has been going on for a long time."

Many Oregon Democrats have already endorsed Harris, including an announcement Monday from Governor Tina Kotek (in full below), as well as statements Sunday by Janelle Bynum and senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.

Stiegler also believes Harris was the right choice.

"That was the person who would succeed him if something happened anyway," she said. "So obviously the president has trust and faith and feels very strongly that she has the capacity and capability to do the job."

But Deschutes County Republicans say they're not worried.

"We are so confident that America can get back on track with the policies that Trump and the other Republicans want to bring forward, even here in Oregon," Whelchel said.

The Democratic National Convention is just a few weeks away, beginning August 19th.

Pacific University political science professor Jim Moore says there's a chance the Harris selection could be contested, but it's narrowing quickly.

"When the people who were also mentioned as being credible candidates for president in a split convention, like Gavin Newsom, governor of California, Pete Buttigieg, the secretary of transportation, Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania; -- they endorsed Harris. So that means that the number of people who can credibly run against her shrinks rapidly,' he said.

 So far, about 700 delegates have already pledged their vote to Harris. She needs 1,976 to win the nomination.

"We, the voters, have no more say in this," Moore said. "The delegates have already been chosen from every state and every territory. But the delegates themselves are going to be talking to each other."

If she doesn't receive the majority, it will go to a second ballot where super delegates will vote.

Local Republicans remain confident the change in the democratic ticket won't affect the outcome.

"Regardless of who the democratic nominee is, we are confident in Donald Trump and JD Vance as our presidential nominee," said Whelchel, "they will be able to get America back on track, just like America was back when Trump was president before," Whelchel said.

Below is Governor Kotek's statement, issued Monday:

[Salem, OR] – Oregon Governor Tina Kotek today announced her support for Vice President Kamala Harris for President. She released the following statement: 

“I am proud to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for President. She’s tough, she’s smart and she’s ready to unite the country. Kamala Harris should be our next President.

“Donald Trump poses a clear and present danger to our country and our world. That’s why it’s so important to defeat him in November. Vice President Harris is the right person to lead Democrats to victory in the upcoming election.

“I thank President Biden for his decades of leadership and his steadfast dedication to make life better for working families. Joe Biden’s record speaks for itself: Recovering from the pandemic, building a strong economy, making historic investments in the nation’s infrastructure and clean energy, taking action on gun violence, fiercely defending abortion access, and rebuilding America’s influence around the world. The President’s decision not to seek reelection will go down in history as an act of courageous leadership and a demonstration of his love for this country.”