Massachusetts Democratic Governor Maura Healey, a key surrogate for Biden as he seeks a second term, urged Biden to “carefully evaluate” his path forward following last week’s dismal performance in the debate.
Healey’s statement on Friday did not call on the president to stop seeking reelection, as other Democrats have done, but his remarks were hardly a forceful defense of the embattled Democratic standard-bearer.
“President Biden saved our democracy in 2020 and has done an incredible job over the past four years. I am deeply grateful for his leadership, and I know he agrees that this is the most important election of our lifetimes,” Healey wrote.
President Biden faces the most crucial weekend of his political career
Massachusetts Democratic Governor Maura Healey has publicly urged President Biden to consider dropping out of the presidential race, suggesting the president should listen to the American people and consider whether he is the best person to defeat former President Donald Trump. (Photographer: Adam Glanzman/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The governor of a New England state that is reliably Democratic said, “The best path forward at this point is a decision for the president to make. I urge the president to listen to the American people over the next few days and carefully evaluate whether he remains our best hope of defeating Donald Trump.”
“Whatever decision President Biden makes, I will do everything in my power to defeat President Donald Trump,” the governor emphasized.
Biden boosts spending to stabilize faltering campaign
Governor Healey traveled to the nation’s capital on Wednesday to meet with the president at the White House. She was one of about two dozen Democratic governors to meet with the president.
According to a source familiar with the talks, Biden faced questions about his health, strength and future political viability.
From left, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, New York Governor Kathy Hockle and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speak to reporters outside the White House in Washington, DC, USA, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Yuri Grypas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Democratic Governors Association chairs Tim Walz of Minnesota and Wes Moore of Maryland encouraged Biden in comments supporting him.
But Moore added, “We’ve always believed that when you love someone, you should tell them the truth. And I think we came in and we’ve been honest with the feedback we’ve received. We’ve been honest with the concerns we’ve heard from people.”
What Biden said about his debate performance
Healey did not speak to reporters at the White House after the meeting, but Friday’s statement was his first since speaking with Biden.
As first reported by The New York Times, Governor Healey told other governors and the president’s senior staff that the president’s political standing was “irreparable” following the disastrous debate performance.
President Joe Biden (R) and Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, participate in the CNN presidential debate at CNN Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, June 27, 2024. (Andrew Harnick/Getty Images)
Biden’s awkward speech and halting answers Under discussion The feud with Trump has caused widespread panic within the Democratic Party, with political commentators, editorial writers and some party donors calling for Biden to step down as party leader in the 2024 presidential race.
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Three House Democrats this week publicly called on Biden to step aside from his reelection effort, while more than a dozen Democratic lawmakers and governors have publicly expressed serious concerns about Biden’s ability to continue serving as the party’s standard-bearer.
Biden is desperately trying to rehabilitate his campaign after last week’s debate, but the next few days could determine whether he survives or falls victim to growing calls from within his party to block his reelection.
At 81, Biden, the oldest president in U.S. history, will need to show Americans he still has the stamina and acumen to handle the world’s toughest and most demanding job — and prove to Democrats he has the energy and fortitude to beat Trump.
Biden reiterated his intention to continue the campaign at a rally in the battleground state of Wisconsin on Friday afternoon.
“You all know I had a little debate last week. I wouldn’t say it was my best performance, but since then there’s been a lot of speculation. What is Joe going to do? Is he going to continue the campaign? What is he going to do? Well, here’s my answer: I’m going to run and I’m going to win again,” Biden told cheering supporters in Madison, Wisconsin’s capital.
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