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Amid the fallout from President Biden’s disastrous performance in Thursday’s presidential debate, some Democrats are calling for the president to be replaced atop the ticket in November.
Several party members have reiterated to DailyMail.com that the decision to step aside rests solely with the president and that Democrats cannot oust him.
Several Democratic officials are being considered as possible replacements if the 81-year-old commander in chief announces he will not seek re-election after all.
Among the names that have emerged in the days since the debate are Vice President Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Sen. Raphael Warnock.
But right now, all the names being suggested as possible replacements for the Democratic presidential nominee are fighting back and closing ranks around the president.
Here’s what they have to say about the possibility of Biden being replaced:
Vice President Kamala Harris
Vice President Kamala Harris was one of the first Democrats to defend President Biden following Thursday’s debate.
She appeared on CNN right after the debate, where she admitted that the president had a rough start, but claimed he had a better ending.
“Yes, the start was slow, but the finish was strong,” he told host Anderson Cooper. “And what was very clear throughout the night is that Joe Biden is fighting on behalf of the American people.”
Vice President Kamala Harris has defended Biden amid the fallout over his debate performance, both on television and during the campaign. She appeared at a campaign event in Nevada after the debate.
Harris has appeared in multiple interviews defending Biden since the debate, saying he is the only candidate who was on the debate stage who has the endorsement of his vice president.
After the debate, Harris went out to campaign in Nevada to build support for Biden.
Governor Gavin Newsom
California Governor Gavin Newsom has also been suggested as a possible replacement for Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee.
Newsom has been one of Biden’s most ardent supporters and appeared in the “press room” in Atlanta directly after the debate to push back against concerns about the president’s fitness to serve.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has been a staunch defender of President Biden and has rejected his replacement. He said he would never turn his back on the president.
Asked about replacing Biden, Newsom flatly rejected it.
“I would never turn my back on President Biden. I would never, ever turn my back on President Biden, and I don’t know any Democrat in my party who would,” Newsom said. “We’re going to win this election.
Newsom said he has spent a lot of time with Biden and knows what he is capable of.
“I have no fear,” he said.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is another state leader whose name has been mentioned as a replacement for Biden and she comes from a battleground state.
On Monday, the governor pushed back on a report suggesting Biden was no longer winnable in Michigan following the debate after Politico reported that Whitmer called a senior Biden campaign official to repudiate the “recruit Gretch” move and warned that Michigan was unwinnable for the president.
Whitmer issued a statement saying she is proud to endorse Biden as a candidate and that she backs him 100 percent.
“Not only do I believe Joe can win Michigan, but I know he can do it because he has the funds to do so,” he said.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is co-chair of Biden’s reelection campaign, insisted Monday that Biden could win Michigan in November and anyone who says otherwise is a “liar.”
The governor also posted a video Monday afternoon praising Biden for working to improve people’s lives and urging people to campaign and vote for the president.
“Anyone who says I would say we can’t win Michigan is lying. Let’s go,” he wrote in his post.
Governor Josh Shapiro
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s name often comes up as a Democrat with a bright political future and possible aspirations for the White House.
The governor of the battleground state was one of the first Democratic leaders to oppose replacing Biden following his shaky debate performance.
“Joe Biden had a bad debate night, but Donald Trump was a bad president,” Shapiro said in an interview with CNN the morning after the debate. However, he also said he would be the first to admit that the debate was not a good look.
Gov. Shapiro said he would not engage in speculation about whether he could replace Biden as the Democratic nominee.
Shapiro also argued that CNN should have done a better job of calling out Trump’s lies.
The Pennsylvania governor declined to comment in the interview on whether he could replace Biden on the ticket. He said he would not “get involved in that hypothesis,” but that he is fully on board.
Shapiro said Democrats need to stop worrying and start working.
Governor Andy Beshear
Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat who won reelection in the ruby-red state of Kentucky, was asked Monday about replacing Biden and whether he would be willing to step in if necessary.
“Only the president can determine his future as a candidate. He is the candidate and as long as he is the candidate, I will support him,” Beshear told the crowd of reporters.
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear said the mention of his name as Biden’s replacement was flattering, but insisted he would back the president as long as he runs.
He said the mention of his name was flattering, but it was a reflection of all the good things happening in his state.
When asked, Beshear admitted that Biden’s performance in Thursday’s debate was not good.
“It was a very bad night for the president, but he remains the candidate. Only he can make decisions about his future candidacy,” he told reporters.
Governor JB Pritzker
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s name also came up as a replacement for Biden, but the billionaire governor released a statement after the debate criticizing Donald Trump while promoting the president.
“Tonight, voters had a clear choice: a president who works hard every day to improve the lives of all Americans or a convicted felon, a self-serving braggart who only looks out for himself,” it said.
“The contrast between these two men was clear before the debate; it is even clearer now,” he continued.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker issued a statement after the debate saying voters had a choice between a hard-working president and a convicted felon.
Pritzker accused the former Republican president of lying and misleading the American people, but said voters would not be fooled.
“Americans rejected Donald Trump’s extreme MAGA agenda in 2020 and will do so again in November,” he said.
Pete Buttigieg
Transportation Secretary and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg’s name has also been floated by some hopeful Democrats looking to a younger generation of leaders.
The 42-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, gained national attention for running in the 2020 primary before joining the Biden administration.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg retweeted a post on Biden’s X where the president said “I know how to do this job” after the debate.
Buttigieg took to X on Monday to retweet a post from the president’s account that included Biden’s latest campaign ad with a video of Biden campaigning in Raleigh, North Carolina, the day after the debate.
Senator Raphael Warnock
Some voters in the battleground state of Georgia suggested to DailyMail.com that their Democratic senator Raphael Warnock would be a good replacement for Biden having won the battleground state.
But Warnock was in Atlanta defending Biden after Thursday’s debate.
“I would be concerned if the president didn’t have a record to campaign on,” Warnock told reporters. “But the fact is, this is a man who has passed historic laws.”
Senator Raphael Warnock said he would do everything he could to ensure Biden and Harris are re-elected
Warnock doubled down on Sunday on “Meet the Press,” saying bad debates happen.
During the interview, he was asked about the possibility of Biden stepping aside and paving the way for Harris to run.
“I have great respect for Vice President Harris, who I spent a lot of time with, but Joe Biden is the nominee,” he replied. “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure we elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.”