Plans are underway for President Biden to meet with Democratic governors from across the country on Wednesday, following Biden’s extremely rough performance in the first debate with former President Trump last Thursday.
Multiple Democratic officials confirmed that the meeting, likely to take place virtually, was being scheduled.
The meeting came after Democratic governors held a conference call on Monday.
Multiple Democratic Party sources confirmed to Fox News that Democratic governors held a conference call yesterday to discuss the latest developments regarding a 2024 rematch between President Biden and President Trump.
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President Biden and former President Trump debated on Thursday night. (Getty Images)
At 81 years old, Biden, the oldest president in American history, is facing the toughest challenge yet in his quest for a second term in the White House. After his halting speech and halting answers in the debates, panic spread within the Democratic Party, with political commentators, editorial writers, some party politicians and donors calling for Biden to step down as the party’s standard-bearer in 2024.
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Monday’s call was organized by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association (DGA).
Sources familiar with the call said it was a forum for the governors to discuss how to respond to last week’s debate, but there was no serious discussion of calling for the president to resign. One source described the call as a “grievance meeting.”
A source also told Fox News that the Biden campaign knew about the call in advance.
President Joe Biden reacts after speaking at a campaign rally, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Matt Kelly)
“Democratic governors have seen how the accomplishments of the Biden-Harris Administration are directly benefiting their residents and have been some of the President and Vice President’s most active and vocal supporters. The Biden-Harris team has been in constant communication with the governors and their teams, including meeting yesterday,” a national Democratic official familiar with the call told Fox News on the condition of anonymity.
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Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas on Tuesday became the first Democratic representative, senator and governor to publicly call on Biden to step down as the party’s standard-bearer.
In the extremely unlikely event that Biden gives up reelection, many state governors, including some who have been rumored to be potential successors, have remained supportive of the president even as they acknowledge his performance in the debates was shaky.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks to reporters after the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
One of those governors, Gavin Newsom of California, told reporters at the press conference after Thursday night’s debate, “I will never turn my back on President Biden, and there is no Democrat in my party that will, especially after tonight. We support him.”
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Asked if he had any concerns about Biden’s fitness to serve as president, Newsom, a key Biden campaign surrogate, said “absolutely not.”
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