Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said Tuesday that Democratic governors had requested a meeting with Biden because they “want to make sure the president is OK.”
Beshear, who has been mentioned as a possible replacement for the 81-year-old commander in chief by Democratic presidential candidates, said in a CNN interview that Biden should be more open “about his health” given that the governor believes his poor performance at last week’s debate “harmed the campaign.”
“I think we all have to be open and honest about what we saw in the debate was tough,” Beshear said during an appearance on “The Situation Room.”
“that [was] “It was a tough night and whatever the outcome of the polls, it will have a negative impact on the campaign,” he added.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, held a conference call with other Democratic governors Monday night to discuss concerns about a debate between Biden and former President Donald Trump, though none of them heard directly from Biden.
The White House has scheduled a meeting between the president and Democratic governors on Wednesday.
“I think the governors just want to have a direct, honest conversation with the president,” Beshear said of the upcoming meetings. “They want to make sure the president is OK.”
“We all know him, he has a personal relationship with us. [OK]We take him at his word, but it’s always nice to meet someone in person.”
What to know about the impact of President Biden’s debate performance:
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, was the first Democrat to call on Biden to drop out of the race after the 80-year-old president froze onstage and lost his train of thought at various times during Tuesday’s debate.
Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) also said Tuesday he isn’t confident Biden can beat Trump in November.
Beshear, 46, stopped short of calling on Biden to end his reelection bid.
“Joe Biden is our nominee and ultimately the decision on whether to continue will be up to him and his family,” he said.
But the governor urged Biden to talk about his health.
“I don’t see anything wrong with asking the president to tell the public a little more about his health and his performance in the debates,” Beshear said.
“If you meet someone you haven’t seen in a while and you sense something’s off, asking how they are and listening to their answer is a way of showing concern and making sure they’re OK,” he argued.
“If people have those questions, I think it would be great to have the president answer them directly,” Beshear said of the president’s health.
