ATLANTA — Being a mom is no walk in the park. Just ask Alexa Duncan, who 11Alive found walking on the Beltline with her daughter, Chloe. Duncan plans to vote in November for both herself and her daughter's future.
"The different changes we have to make economically, gas prices and rent, student loans, all these things matter," Duncan said. "My daughter has to understand her rights and the things we’re fighting for and things we want in life to change.”
While Republicans selected former President Donald Trump as their nominee, Democratic President Joe Biden announced would not seek re-election. He first posted to the social media platform X on Sunday, before he addressed the nation on live television Wednesday night.
"Nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy," Biden said. "That includes personal ambition. So I've decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to the next generation. It's the best way to unite our nation. There's a time and place for long years of experience in public life. But there's also a time and place for new voices, fresh voices, yes, younger voices. That time and place is now."
Duncan said she agreed that it was the right decision for Biden to step down from the Democratic presidential nomination and look to new leadership to lead the party.
"I think he’s taken it slow. He’s done what he can. But it’s not his time anymore," Duncan said. "It's a lot on his health, so I think he just needs to step down and allow someone else to take in hand."
Political strategist Fred Hicks said Biden's speech Wednesday reminded him of a speech President Ronald Reagan made in the 1980s during a crisis in Libya. Hicks called Biden's address powerful and likened it to how Biden closed his 2020 presidential campaign by reminding the country of what it means to be American.
“To see a speech really focused on America, who we are, who we were and why we exist, and making the case for our continued existence by being rooted in traditional ideals – that’s very powerful," Hicks said. “This was an office to which he aspired for many years. For you to step away from 50-plus years of public service, which he referenced, it’s really a lot. And it takes a lot. That’s an individual putting America first, putting his country first.”
Over the last several weeks, Mr. Biden received pressure from high-ranking Democrats to drop out of the presidential race. It came after a disastrous debate performance in Atlanta against Mr. Trump.
Hicks said President Biden's address had three goals: to show that he's competent and can still hold office for the next six months, to define his legacy as president and the make the case for Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the Democratic party in the upcoming election.
“We understand he stands on past presidents' shoulders, as we like to say, but that every president paves the way for the next," Hicks said. “Even if you have differences, policy differences with the president, the president is the leader of our country and we should respect the office and the president should always be presidential. Tonight, Joe Biden was very presidential.”
Marcelo Cedeño is a business owner who said he was excited about the potential for new leadership. He said President Biden had done "an okay job" but was interested in seeing Harris and Trump debate soon.
"I’m excited firsthand to have someone who represents different sections of the population like women, immigrants, minorities," Cedeño said. "I would like to see more. I don't think we, as the general public, know enough about what her platform is or will be."
It's a platform and a position that's no walk in the park. But Alexa Duncan hopes it can launch the country into a promising future, no matter who comes out the winner.
"I want something more peaceful, less violence, better education, better opportunities as an entrepreneur and not just a worker," Duncan said. "Change in what can be done for the people and not just for the government.”