Democratic governors seek White House meeting to address concerns after poor debate performance

In response to concerns raised by some Democratic governors following President Biden's lackluster debate performance last week, the White House and his reelection campaign are working to bolster support for him. A meeting is scheduled for Wednesday evening with Democratic governors, including Gavin Newsom, J.B. Pritzker, and Kathy Hochul, to address these issues. Rep. Lloyd Doggett's call for Biden to drop out of the presidential race was swiftly dismissed by the campaign, highlighting internal tensions within the Democratic Party. There is a growing sentiment among Democratic governors that Biden has not engaged enough with them during his campaign, prompting calls for direct communication from the president himself. While efforts were made to arrange for Vice President Harris to speak with governors, they have expressed a preference to hear directly from Biden. The president has only spoken with a few governors, such as Hochul and Phil Murphy, since the debate, raising concerns about his outreach within the party. Despite criticism of his debate performance, some governors like Andy Beshear have pledged continued support for Biden as long as he remains in the race. Speculation about potential replacements for Biden, including Gretchen Whitmer, underscores the uncertainty surrounding his candidacy. The White House is considering a meeting with Democratic governors to address these concerns, as well as potential campaign stops in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania to boost Biden's image following the debate. While Biden's campaign advisers have sought to reassure supporters about his political future, there is a clear demand from lawmakers and top Democrats to hear directly from the president. The handling of post-debate messaging by Biden's team has faced criticism, with some Democrats expressing reservations about the campaign's dismissive approach. As Biden aims to regain momentum through public appearances and engagements, the upcoming meeting with Democratic governors and potential travel plans signal efforts to address internal challenges and shore up support within the party.