Manchin says Biden must 'pass the torch'

Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) became the fourth senator to call on President Biden to leave the presidential race on Sunday, urging the president to be a "uniter" and "pass the torch" to another Democratic candidate.

"I came to the decision with a heavy heart that I think it's time to pass the torch to a new generation," Manchin told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" on Sunday.

"I want him to be the president in the last five months of this presidency of his term, to do what he can do is unite our country, to calm down the rhetoric and be able to focus attention to peace in the world," Manchin said. "Campaigning, I've been to statewide campaigns many times, it's an unbelievable challenge to anybody, to anybody physically, mentally, every way, shape and form. And right now, the country and the world needs our President Joe Biden, but the compassion he's always had and the ability to bring people together to use all of his forces and energy towards that."

The former Democrat, who left the party in May, made clear that he still has confidence in Biden's ability to serve and does not have concerns about his mental well-being. However, he advocated for an "open process" in the coming weeks to select a replacement.

"I think that we have a lot of talent on the bench, a lot of good people," Manchin said, adding that his top picks include Govs. Andy Beshear (D-Ky.) and Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.)

"I've got two tremendous governors right next door to me and Andy Beshear in Kentucky and Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania who are operating with legislators either evenly split or completely opposite of their party affiliation," he said. "They haven't divided their state. They haven't made you pick aside and demonize the other side. They brought people together. This is what an open process would do."

The senator said an open process and selecting a younger candidate could encourage voters who have grown skeptical of establishment Democrats to return to the party.

"They have to win me back," he added.

Sens. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) have also called on Biden to leave the race, as have numerous House members.

But Biden and his campaign have remained adamant that the president will be the Democratic nominee despite the rising calls from party members for him to step aside. 

"Joe Biden has made it more than clear: he's in this race and he's in it to win it. Moreover, he's the presumptive nominee, there is no plan for an alternative nominee," Dan Kanninen, Biden campaign battleground states director, wrote in a memo released after the Republican National Convention.

Vice President Kamala Harris is considered a front-runner should Biden step aside, a decision that is expected to be reached this week.

Story was updated at 9:28 a.m. ET