President Biden and his campaign have been in purge mode this week after his poor performance in the debates sparked panic within the Democratic Party and even calls for him to resign.
As of Saturday evening, five House Democrats had publicly rebelled against their party and called on Biden to step aside to allow a new nominee to challenge former President Trump.
But many Democratic lawmakers and other public officials have backed Biden and are urging their fellow politicians and the American people to do the same ahead of a crucial election this fall.
Following the debate, these people publicly endorsed Biden:
Vice President Kamala Harris
Shortly after the first presidential debate, Vice President Harris defended Biden in a sometimes tense interview with CNN.
She said Biden “started slow” on the night but was able to “finish strong,” pointing out that Biden has better character than Trump.
As calls for Biden to step down continue, Harris has emerged as one of the leading candidates to succeed him.
But she doubled down on her support for the president and said she plans to work together to defeat him.
Governor Gavin Newsom
One of Biden’s biggest allies, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.), dismissed concerns about the president’s competency immediately after the debate.
Newsom, who is also rumored to be a front-runner to become president if Biden leaves office, called all the discussion about Biden’s performance “unhelpful and unnecessary.”
He urged people to look at the past three and a half years, not just 30 minutes of Biden’s presidency.
Governor Kathy Hawkle
Gov. Kathy Hockle (N.Y., Dakota) was one of several Democratic governors who met with Biden this week.
During the meeting, the governors pledged their support for Biden, Hoekl said.
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Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.) also attended the White House meeting.
In a similar online post, she said Biden was the Democratic nominee and that she supported him.
“He’s in it to win and I’m rooting for him,” she posted.
Like Harris, Whitmer has been rumored to be one of the few people the party could choose if Biden leaves office.
Governor Tim Walz
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (Democrat) also attended the meeting and voiced his support for Biden.
Speaking outside the White House after the meeting, Walz said they were all “looking for a path to victory.” He said Biden had stood by the governors throughout the coronavirus pandemic and they were standing by him now.
He said Biden was fit to be president and that last week’s debate was a “poor performance.”
Governor Wes Moore
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), who also attended the conference, said his meeting with Biden and Harris was “candid” and “candid.”
Moore said they had been open with Biden about the concerns they had and what they had heard from constituents.
“We said we support the president,” Moore said. “The president has always supported us, and we’re going to support the president.”
Senator John Fetterman
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) told his fellow Democrats to “calm down” after reports emerged of panic within the party after the debate.
He said he refuses to join the “Democratic vultures” because one bad performance “is not the sum of a person or their track record.”
Just a week after the debate, in an on-camera interview with ABC, Fetterman said moderator George Stephanopoulos should ask the president nine questions, including allusions to Trump, whether he’s ever been impeached and whether he’s ever slept with or bribed porn stars.
Senator Chris Coons
Sen. Chris Coons (Delaware) said the election “couldn’t be more important” and that Biden was the only Democrat to beat Trump.
“He’s our nominee for president in November, and he has the best chance of winning,” Coons said.
Shortly after the debate, a fired-up Biden appeared in North Carolina to address voters, sounding much more upbeat, but still drew criticism for speaking from a teleprompter.
Coons said he thinks Biden should be more “unscripted” and “off the record” in his remarks.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi acknowledged the concerns earlier this week, saying it was fair to ask whether Biden, 81, had some kind of ailment or whether the debate was just an “episode.”
Still, she defended Biden after the debate, emphasizing that he has been “sensitive” to issues when working with her.
She also denied suggestions that Biden could be replaced by another candidate.
Congressman Sheila Jackson Lee
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) said Biden has stood by her district and the country over the past four years.
“He listened, and most importantly, he delivered.” She wrote to X. “He’s an honest man against the habitual liars who have become a disgrace to the profession.”
She said Democrats will beat Trump this fall “by supporting Biden.”
Congressman Haley Stevens
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) Post to Instagram Speaking at a Biden-Harris campaign event in Michigan, she said Democrats were working hard “to let voters know that President Biden supports them.”
Congressman Jasmine Crockett
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) reiterated her support for Biden and warned against re-electing Trump.
She called on Democrats to “unite behind a slate” that currently consists of Biden and Harris, and said she would support the current slate “as long as the president says he can get the job done.”
Congressman John Garamendi
Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) wants his fellow Democrats to calm down and take a deep breath when it comes to concerns about Biden.
He described the post-debate panic as a “frenzy” and called for people to understand the “enormous importance” of their actions and what Biden has accomplished for the country.
“Look at what this president has done and what he’s accomplished since that debate,” Garamendi said.
The California Democrat said serving as president and campaigning at the same time is no easy task, but Biden has managed to do both.
