Democratic gubernatorial nominee Joe Cunningham reiterated his call for a new generation to take leadership roles in American politics during a campaign stop in Aiken.
Cunningham spoke Saturday afternoon at a fundraiser for the Aiken County Democratic Party held at the Center for African American History Art and Culture on York Street.
During the question and answer session that followed, Cunningham was asked why he should receive support from South Carolina Democrats in 2022 when he’s said President Joe Biden, a Democrat, shouldn’t run for a second term in office in 2024.
Cunningham told the Washington Post in late July that Biden, who would be 82 years old during the campaign, shouldn’t seek another term in office. He said it would be hypocritical to call his opponent, Republican incumbent Henry McMaster, 75, too old to govern and not say the same thing about Biden, 79.
During his speech Saturday, Cunningham took several shots at McMaster’s age. He called his values out of touch with the values held by South Carolinians.
“I can tell you what I believe: I believe its time for a new generation to step forward,” Cunningham said.
His comment drew loud applause from the audience attending the event.
Cunningham said Biden has served the country for 30 or 40 years.
Biden was elected to the Senate in 1972 and served until he was elected vice president in 2008. Including eight years as Barack Obama’s vice president, his senate service and assuming Biden serves the remaining two years of his term, he will have served for 48 years.
“It’s time for a new generation to take the mantle,” Cunningham, 40, continued. “What would he (Biden) be? Like 82, I think? That means that he would be 86 years old at the end of his (second) term.”
Cunningham said his father, Bill, a former Kentucky Supreme Court judge, told him one of the most important things is to know when to leave. He added during his two years in Congress – Cunningham represented the South Carolina’s First Congressional District from 2019 to 2021 – he saw so many Democrats with talent, ideas and vision.
“I just think its time for a new generation of leadership,” Cunningham said. “I see people up there for 30, 40 (years). I served with someone on the Natural Resources Committee who had been in Congress for 50 years.”
Cunningham said he wasn’t saying that he wouldn’t support Biden but that it was time for a new generation to take the leadership roles.
“It’s not a question of can they do the job, it’s should they do the job,” Cunningham said. “Don’t we want somebody who’s making the decisions to be around to live with the consequences?”
This also drew applause from some audience members.
He said he wanted someone in charge who knew the challenges of raising children now, and said his son was his reason for running. Cunningham also said he wanted someone in charge who understood the challenges of dealing with student loans and working in this economy.
“This isn’t anything personal against Joe Biden; I believe that its time for a new generation to take a step forward,” Cunningham said.
He also called for the expansion of Medicaid and the legalization of marijuana and sports betting. Cunningham said he would use the additional revenue from marijuana and sports betting taxes to increase teachers’ starting salaries to $50,000.
Also in attendance at the fundraiser were S.C. Rep. Bill Clyburn, D-Aiken; Aiken City Council members Lessie B. Price and Gail Diggs; and South Carolina House candidate Jerico “J.D.” McCoy.
Cunningham also visited Aiken during a stop on a 46-county tour of the state and spoke at the Aiken County Democratic Blue Bash earlier this summer.
The general election is scheduled for Nov. 8.
