Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is set to meet with President Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday amid growing concerns over the president's recent debate performance. Governor Healey, together with Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, will join other Democratic state governors in a closed-door conversation to address the fallout from Biden's face-off against former President Donald Trump. Healey had previously voiced her discomfort with the debate, referencing Trump's performance by saying, "I also saw Donald Trump stand up there and lie," according to WHDH.
The meeting comes on the heels of Biden's performance stirring doubts within his own party, with Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett becoming the first sitting Democratic member of Congress to publicly call for Biden to step down as the party's 2024 nominee. "He must not deliver us to Trump in 2024," Doggett said in a statement obtained by WHDH. Maine Governor Janet Mills will be partaking in the discussion remotely, as noted by NBC10 Boston.
While some concerns about Biden's age and election prospects loom, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre acknowledged the situation, saying "The President did not have a great night," but also affirmed, "He knows how to do the job." This sentiment of reassurance was echoed by President Biden as he attributed his debate performance to jet-lag from recent travel and maintained his job competency. These statements were reported by WHDH following a fundraiser event.
According to WCVB, several Democratic governors share a concern for the 81-year-old president's fitness for the campaign for a second term. The meeting aims to ensure that Biden is candid about his condition, as expressed by Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who said, "That the president and his team are being candid with us about his condition" when recalling the horror of watching the debate.
Historically, incumbent presidents who have struggled to consolidate their party's support at this stage in their first term have faced difficulties securing a second. This backdrop sets a sobering scene for Biden's campaign, as Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina suggests Democrats may need to rally around Vice President Kamala Harris if Biden exits the race. A recent CNN poll, noted by WCVB, indicated that Harris performs better against Trump than Biden does.
