Washington — President Biden He met with Democratic governors on Wednesday night, the White House and his re-election campaign after last week’s work to drum up support for him. Shaky debate performance.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walls, president of the Democratic Governors Association, was at the White House meeting along with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois Governor JP Pritzker, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois Governor JP Pritzker, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Maryland Govt. Wes Moore and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. Others almost attended.
“Yes, he deserves the position,” Wallace told reporters outside the White House following the meeting. “…None of us are denying that Thursday night was a bad performance, it was a bad win, if you will, in that, but it doesn’t affect what I believe he delivers.”
Moore was so incensed by his comments that Mr. Biden said the governors were “honest.”
“We’ve been honest about the concerns we hear from people,” Moore said. “We’ve been honest, and what the president has consistently told us and shown us that he’s all in, we said we’ll stand with him.”
Hochul, Mr. Biden said he “must win it,” adding that “all of us” at the meeting pledged our support to him because the stakes couldn’t be higher.”
“I feel very confident in his abilities and we talked about the plan and how he’s going to focus on issues that are important to Americans. And I feel very confident coming out of this meeting,” Hochul said.
In a separate statement released by his office, Newsom said “I heard three words from the president — he’s all in. So am I. Joe Biden had our backs. Now’s the time to get him.”
The meeting comes as the White House and Biden campaign to keep Democratic governors and other elected Democrats in the fold to succeed him. Rock Debate. Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas The first democratic legislator was Mr. He called Biden out In Tuesday’s presidential election, the campaign was quickly dismissed.
In an all-employee campaign call earlier on Wednesday, Mr. Biden He said he will continue in the competitionSources familiar with the call told CBS News.
“Let me say as clearly, simply and directly as I can: I’m running. I’m the Democratic nominee. Nobody’s pushing me out. I’m not out,” the president said. , according to a source.
The meeting with the governors is significant because till now, mostly Mr. Biden’s top aides and advisers are reaching out to elected Democrats to vouch for him. Discussion performance. Members of the Democratic Governors Association held a call Monday to discuss the ongoing response to last week’s debate and the widespread concern among state chief executives that Mr. For two persons familiar with the arrangements for the call.
The Biden campaign tried to arrange a time for Vice President Harris to speak with the governors, but the governors decided Monday that they wanted to hear directly from the president.
“They want to hear from him directly before they go and stick their necks out for him again,” said one of the people familiar with the plan, who spoke on condition of anonymity to speak openly.
Before the meeting, Hochul and New Jersey Gov. Bill Murphy — who hosted one of the fundraisers attended by the president and first lady over the weekend in the New York area — were the only two governors Mr. Known to have spoken directly with Biden. Discussion.
Beshear told reporters on Monday that the “debate performance was tough,” but said he would continue to support Mr. Biden “as long as he stays in the race.” Mr. Beshear added that Biden is the candidate and “only he can make a decision about his candidacy.”
Beshear, Pritzker and Whitmer — all governors who would replace the president if the Democratic nominee steps down — said last Thursday evening that Mr. The event was a multimillion-dollar affair that put future presidential candidates in a room full of donors who could fund their future campaigns.
on”Face the nation“On Sunday, Moore emphasized his continued support for the president, insisting, “Joe Biden is our candidate.” Joe Biden is our leader.
Hunter Woodall contributed to this report.
