Do you know what’s surprised me the most about Joe Biden quitting this morning?

It's obviously not that he’s quit - I mean that was predictable, it clearly needed to happen. But what’s surprised me is that he’s been so badly behaved about it.

First of all, it shouldn’t have taken him more than three weeks to quit. It should've been obvious to him immediately after the debate that it probably wasn't survivable.

But if you give him the benefit of the doubt and say he deserved to at least try to fight to stay - fair enough, but come on.

When George Clooney and Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi made it pretty obvious nearly two weeks ago that they did not back him, he should've pulled out then. But no, he dug his heels in and dragged it on.

And then, to endorse Kamala Harris on his way out just feels really bratty. I would argue he shouldn't have done it.

For a start, she's going to struggle to beat Trump, she's one of the most unpopular VPs in a long time, if not in history.

And he must know that - he himself privately expressed that sentiment according to reports, which is part of the reason he didn’t want to quit.

He should not have endorsed her, because other senior Democrats clearly do not want her to be anointed by him like this. Neither Barack Obama or Nancy Pelosi have endorsed her yet, and it's been a few hours. That says a lot.

So it feels like what he’s just done is given them a massive middle finger, possibly in retaliation for forcing him out. He's entitled to do that if he wants to be a brat - but what he’s just done is laid out how divided and shambolic the Democrats are right now.

I’m sure there are a lot of people in the Democracts who would've hoped the division would end the minute that Biden stepped down.

But by endorsing Kamala Harris, he’s just made sure it goes on for potentially weeks until the party’s National Convention next month.

People have made a lot of Biden in the last few hours - they've sung his praises, they've hero-worshipped him, they've said he's one of the best Presidents they can remember. But he has just demonstrated what a brat he can he be.

LISTEN ABOVE

Do you know what’s surprised me the most about Joe Biden quitting this morning?
It's obviously not that he’s quit - I mean that was predictable, it clearly needed to happen. But what’s surprised me is that he’s been so badly behaved about it.
First of all, it shouldn’t have taken him more than three weeks to quit. It should've been obvious to him immediately after the debate that it probably wasn't survivable.
But if you give him the benefit of the doubt and say he deserved to at least try to fight to stay - fair enough, but come on.
When George Clooney and Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi made it pretty obvious nearly two weeks ago that they did not back him, he should've pulled out then. But no, he dug his heels in and dragged it on. And then, to endorse Kamala Harris on his way out just feels really bratty. I would argue he shouldn't have done it.
For a start, she's going to struggle to beat Trump, she's one of the most unpopular VPs in a long time, if not in history.
And he must know that - he himself privately expressed that sentiment according to reports, which is part of the reason he didn’t want to quit.
He should not have endorsed her, because other senior Democrats clearly do not want her to be anointed by him like this. Neither Barack Obama or Nancy Pelosi have endorsed her yet, and it's been a few hours. That says a lot.
So it feels like what he’s just done is given them a massive middle finger, possibly in retaliation for forcing him out. He's entitled to do that if he wants to be a brat - but what he’s just done is laid out how divided and shambolic the Democrats are right now.
I’m sure there are a lot of people in the Democracts who would've hoped the division would end the minute that Biden stepped down.
But by endorsing Kamala Harris, he’s just made sure it goes on for potentially weeks until the party’s National Convention next month.
People have made a lot of Biden in the last few hours - they've sung his praises, they've hero-worshipped him, they've said he's one of the best Presidents they can remember. But he has just demonstrated what a brat he can he be.
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

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