Group Of Dem Governors Want To Meet With Biden ‘To Make Sure He’s Doing OK’

 Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear acknowledged on Tuesday night that President Joe Biden’s debate performance would “hurt the campaign” and that Democratic governors around the country “want a direct and candid conversation with the president.”

Beshear made the comments on CNN’s “The Situation Room” as some Democrats question Biden’s ability to run a successful re-election campaign against former President Donald Trump. A group of Democratic governors reportedly held a private call on Monday to discuss meeting with Biden. The call was organized by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the chairman of the Democratic Governors’ Association, CNN anchor Jake Tapper reported. On Tuesday afternoon, Tapper deleted three social media posts that described more details about the meeting.

“I think we’ve all got to be upfront and honest that what we saw in the debate – it was rough,” Beshear said, “It [was] a rough night, and regardless of polls that you see, it’s going to hurt the campaign.”

According to Tapper, a meeting between the governors and the White House will “in all likelihood” be held on Wednesday. The meeting between Democratic governors and President Biden will include California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has been floated as one of Biden’s potential replacements on the Democratic ticket. Newsom will travel to the White House to attend the meeting in person, a Newsom spokesman said on Tuesday, according to POLITICO.

“I think the governors just want a direct and candid conversation with the president. We want to make sure he’s doing okay,” Beshear continued. “We all know him. He has formed a personal relationship with us, and he says he is [OK], and we take him at his word, but it’s always good to see somebody in person.”

While Beshear encouraged Biden to be open about his health and fitness, he said that any decision on the future of his campaign “ultimately” falls “to him and his family.”

Illinois Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker also said on CNN on Tuesday night that he is still “100% on board with supporting [Biden] unless he makes some other decision.” Pritzker was asked by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins if he thinks there’s a chance “that we are in a situation where you’re discussing who a new Democratic nominee would be.”

“I don’t know. You’d have to ask that to Joe Biden,” Pritzker responded, adding, “Because he’s the nominee of the party unless he says otherwise.”

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) was the first Democrat in Congress to call on Biden to step down, saying on Tuesday that Biden “has the opportunity to encourage a new generation of leaders from whom a nominee can be chosen to unite our country through an open, democratic process.”

“I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw,” Doggett added. “I respectfully call on him to do so.”

Maine Rep. Jared Golden, another Democrat, also discussed Biden’s re-election chances, writing in an op-ed on Tuesday that “Biden’s poor performance in the debate was not a surprise.”

“It also didn’t rattle me as it has others, because the outcome of this election has been clear to me for months: While I don’t plan to vote for him, Donald Trump is going to win. And I’m OK with that,” Golden added.