A coalition of prominent Democratic governors voiced their support for President Joe Biden on Wednesday amidst increasing pressure for him to step down from the race.
Governors Tim Walz of Minnesota, Wes Moore of Maryland, Gavin Newsom of California, and Kathy Hochul of New York participated in a private meeting with Biden in Washington, D.C., where the president aimed to reassure his party and the public about his capability following a less-than-stellar debate performance.
During a more than an hour-long session at the White House, both in-person and virtually, Biden engaged with over 20 Democratic governors. Post-meeting, the governors described the conversation as “candid” and acknowledged concerns about Biden’s debate performance.
They emphasized the primary goal of defeating Donald Trump in the upcoming election, affirming their support for Biden despite some Democrats urging him to withdraw.
“We, like many Americans, are worried,” said Tim Walz of Minnesota.
“We are all looking for the path to win – all the governors agree with that.
President Biden agrees with that. He has had our backs through Covid … the governors have his back
. We’re working together just to make very, very clear that a path to victory in November is the No. 1 priority and that’s the No. 1 priority of the president … The feedback was good.
The conversation was honest.”
Wes Moore of Maryland added, “The president is our nominee. The president is our party leader. He was very clear that he’s in this to win it.”
Moore further mentioned, “We were honest about the feedback we’re getting … and the concerns we’re hearing from people.
We’re going to have his back … the results we’ve been able to see under this administration have been undeniable.”
The meeting concluded a challenging day for Biden, who faced calls from his party and a major donor to step aside amid doubts about his fitness for office.
Two Democratic lawmakers have urged Biden to exit the race, while a third expressed “grave concerns” about his ability to defeat Trump.
The White House has refuted reports suggesting Biden is reconsidering his candidacy.
Biden has strongly asserted his intention to remain in the race.
“Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can, as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running … no one’s pushing me out,” Biden declared during a call with his re-election campaign staff.
“I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win.”
Vice President Kamala Harris has also shown unwavering support, despite some insiders reportedly rallying around her as a potential replacement.
“We will not back down.
We will follow our president’s lead,” Harris reportedly told staffers.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer also expressed her support for Biden.
“He is in it to win it and I support him,” she stated on Twitter/X after the meeting.
Whitmer, along with other Democratic governors like Gavin Newsom, has been mentioned as a potential replacement should Biden withdraw.
Newsom, who attended the governors’ meeting, remarked, “I heard three words from the president tonight – he’s all in. And so am I.”
Newsom, a key surrogate for Biden’s re-election campaign, has seen increasing speculation as a potential substitute if Biden steps down. Following last week’s debate, reporters questioned him about potentially replacing Biden.
A recent Siena College/New York Times poll indicated an increased lead for Trump since the debate, with 49% of likely voters supporting Trump compared to 43% for Biden. Only 48% of Democrats in the poll believe Biden should remain the nominee.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday showed former First Lady Michelle Obama as the only hypothetical candidate to definitively defeat Trump, although she has stated she is not running. That poll showed Biden and Trump tied.
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