President Joe Biden has scheduled a meeting with Democratic governors on Wednesday to shore up support among party leaders following his lackluster debate performance last week. This meeting, which is expected to be mostly virtual, follows a call from Democratic governors who expressed concerns and requested a conversation with the president.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Biden’s plans to speak with Democratic governors and congressional leaders to address the concerns raised.
The initiative to engage with Democratic governors comes after a previous call where the governors discussed Biden’s debate performance. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, highlighted that the governors had questioned Biden’s strategy and were concerned about the implications of his performance.
Walz anticipates that the upcoming meeting will revisit these issues and seek clarity on Biden’s campaign plans moving forward.
Biden Engages Democratic Governors in Response to Debate Performance Criticism
Biden’s decision to hold this meeting reflects an effort to reassure Democratic leaders and address fears within the party about his capacity to campaign effectively and compete against former President Donald Trump. This is seen as a significant move to maintain party unity and mitigate doubts raised by his debate performance, which included moments of hesitation and raspy delivery.
Despite calls from some Democrats for Biden to reconsider his candidacy, there is no indication that he plans to step down. Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett recently suggested that Biden should withdraw, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi noted that it is reasonable to question whether Biden’s debate performance was an isolated incident or indicative of a broader issue.
Nonetheless, Biden’s campaign continues to assert confidence in his ability to recover from the debate and remain a strong contender.
Not all Democratic governors are expected to participate in the upcoming meeting. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, who has previously diverged from Biden on issues like COVID-19 vaccine mandates, has not confirmed her attendance.
However, Kelly has publicly supported Biden, describing him as a man of strong character and affirming her support for his re-election in November. This illustrates the mixed reactions within the party as Biden seeks to consolidate support and address internal concerns.
