Biden to meet with Pritzker, other governors as he tells staff he’s ‘in this race all the way’

Tahman Bradley and BJ Lutz

9 minutes ago

President Joe Biden speaks at a campaign rally, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

WASHINGTON — President Biden’s agenda for Wednesday’s meeting includes a meeting with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other governors, aiming to reassure Democrats that he can remain their standard-bearer in November.

The statement came amid a lunch with Vice President Kamala Harris, calls with congressional leaders and an all-White House staff meeting in which he reportedly said he was “in this race until the end.”

The president’s conversation with governors is the first since his debate performance sparked panic within the party and among its supporters. Ahead of the meeting, Pritzker said he would like to “see more” Biden reassuring others.

“When you come out of a bad debate, you have to remind people why you are the right person to elect,” Pritzker told CNN on Tuesday.

The White House first blamed the president’s poor performance on a cold, then on his international travel schedule.

“I decided to go around the world several times, crossing I don’t know how many time zones,” the president said at a fundraiser Tuesday night in Virginia, adding that he had crossed “15 time zones” and joking that he “then came back and almost fell asleep on stage.”

Biden arrived at Camp David on June 20, seven days before the debate. The presidential residence and Atlanta, where the debate was held, are both in the Eastern Time Zone.

Six days after the performance, the numbers are starting to show the damage. A New York Times/Siena College poll shows former President Trump widening the gap, with 49% of likely voters choosing him to 43% for Biden. A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows former first lady Michelle Obama is the only Democrat with a lead over Trump in a hypothetical matchup.

Some Democrats are now openly questioning whether the president should consider dropping out of the race. Texas Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggert became the first Democrat to call on Biden to step down. Arizona Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva agreed Wednesday.

Although Biden remains determined, analysts say he still has a long way to go before questions about his mental health are put to rest.

““For President Biden, it wasn’t a matter of preparation, it wasn’t a matter of fatigue, it was a night that suggested cognitive difficulties and that’s why, more than anyone who’s had a bad night, this president has an obligation to answer the tough questions and ask them live and show the public that he can still handle them,” said WGN political analyst Paul Lisnek.

The Trump campaign is watching all this closely, aware that there is a risk that Biden will be replaced on the ticket.

“President Trump will beat any Democrat on November 5 because he has a proven track record and is focused on making America great again,” the campaign said.

Democrats will hold their nominating convention in Chicago next month.