As calls grow for President Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race following last week’s presidential debate, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who has denied any involvement in the “Draft Gretsch” shadow campaign, may be the front-runner to replace Biden. But one expert says her chances of facing off against former President Donald Trump in November will be grim.
“She’s doing the right thing in denying the interest because she can’t afford to appear disingenuous,” Tebi Troy, a former White House aide and deputy secretary of Health and Human Services under the Bush administration, said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“A politician friend of mine described it to me as a Cinderella scenario at the ball. Everyone knows the clock stops and everything changes at midnight, but at the same time, everyone enjoys dancing because the prince is handsome and the champagne is flowing. However, the clever ones keep an eye on the door while they dance around midnight, making sure they’re in position.”
Newsom’s progressive activism and debating skills are one of his weaknesses in a potential national campaign: experts
President Biden, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (second from right) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) (far right) attend the 2022 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, September 14, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)
Whitmer, who won reelection in 2022 by double-digit margins, Previously suggested Interest in the presidential elections is growing Rising to the top It has been high on the list of donor priorities in recent weeks.
Online supporters have spread the “Draft Gretsch” message, and after the debate Politico reported that Governor Whitmer had spoken to Democratic leaders and rejected the move, but disputed reports that she had warned Biden had no chance of winning Michigan, calling it “complete bullshit.”
“I am proud to endorse Joe Biden as my nominee and I stand with him 100% in the fight to defeat Donald Trump,” said Governor Whitmer. It said in a statement On Monday, Joe not only believes he can win Michigan, he knows he can because he has the evidence.”
Newsom headlines Democratic campaign event in New Hampshire
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (AP Photo/Paul Sancia/File)
But her weakness is that Whitmer is not a particularly well-known public figure among ordinary Americans.
“She’s a popular governor in a battleground state,” said Troy, who is also a senior fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center, “so she has a lot of good points, but at the same time, she hasn’t been fully vetted. And most of the people who could challenge Trump or replace Biden haven’t been fully vetted.”
Governor Whitmer has drawn attention for her “heavy-handed” restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic in the state, and last year she created the state’s first LGBTQ+ commission, signed pro-LGBTQ+ legislation, and repealed several of the state’s abortion restrictions and enshrined the right to abortion in the state constitution.
“I think our biggest weaknesses aren’t the weaknesses we know about, but the weaknesses we don’t know about,” Troy said.
That may change next week when Whitmer’s book, “True Gretch,” is released.
Biden campaign remains silent as party reeles from ’embarrassing’ debate performance
This image provided by Simon & Schuster is the cover of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s book, “True Gretch.”
Biden’s lackluster debate performance Vice President HarrisAs November approaches, he is beginning to take a more visible role in the election campaign.
Harris suddenly campaignIt marks a turning point for the vice president, who has been panned by many critics as a potential drag on Democrats in the November election.
Fox News Digital’s Andrew Mark Miller and Michael Lee contributed to this report.
