Jun 28, 2024
Minutes after President Biden walked off the debate stage, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was among the first names floated by pundits as a potential emergency replacement.
Why it matters: Her position on unofficial shortlists underscores the governor's standing as a rising national figure in the Democratic Party.
It also boosts her name recognition with out-of-state voters and is an indicator of her staying power beyond this election cycle, her supporters argue.
Driving the news: Concerns over whether Biden can do the job for four more years ramped up Thursday following the first presidential debate, where his "awful" performance left Democrats "in a state of shock," Axios' Andrew Solender reported.
Reality check: A Biden adviser told CNN on Friday that not only would the president not drop out, but he also intends to participate in a second debate this fall.
State of play: Whitmer's stardom has grown in the national Democratic Party since she helped Michigan flip the Legislature, which scored the first Democratic trifecta in a generation.
The term-limited governor hasn't ruled out a future presidential run, but has firmly supported Biden's re-election campaign as its co-chair.
Between the lines: Part of her appeal lies in her experience working across the aisle while championing Democratic causes like gun safety measures, abortion access and civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ residents.
The governor launched a national political group last year in an effort to boost her public profile.
She also wrote a book — a tradition for presidential hopefuls — titled "True Gretch," releasing July 9.
The other side: Locally, she's been vilified by opponents on the election trail and Republican rivals in the state Legislature.
"If pathological liar Joe Biden fails tonight this is the next pathological liar they'll replace him with," Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon said of Whitmer on social media.
Yes, but: Michigan swing voters in an Axios focus group had mostly positive things to say about Whitmer when asked last summer about a potential presidential bid — even those who opposed her.
A January Detroit News poll of 600 likely Michigan voters found Whitmer outperforming Biden in matchups against former President Trump.
Minutes after President Biden walked off the debate stage, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was among the first names floated by pundits as a potential emergency replacement.
Why it matters: Her position on unofficial shortlists underscores the governor's standing as a rising national figure in the Democratic Party.
It also boosts her name recognition with out-of-state voters and is an indicator of her staying power beyond this election cycle, her supporters argue.
Driving the news: Concerns over whether Biden can do the job for four more years ramped up Thursday following the first presidential debate, where his "awful" performance left Democrats "in a state of shock," Axios' Andrew Solender reported.
Reality check: A Biden adviser told CNN on Friday that not only would the president not drop out, but he also intends to participate in a second debate this fall.
State of play: Whitmer's stardom has grown in the national Democratic Party since she helped Michigan flip the Legislature, which scored the first Democratic trifecta in a generation.
The term-limited governor hasn't ruled out a future presidential run, but has firmly supported Biden's re-election campaign as its co-chair.
Between the lines: Part of her appeal lies in her experience working across the aisle while championing Democratic causes like gun safety measures, abortion access and civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ residents.
The governor launched a national political group last year in an effort to boost her public profile.
She also wrote a book — a tradition for presidential hopefuls — titled "True Gretch," releasing July 9.
The other side: Locally, she's been vilified by opponents on the election trail and Republican rivals in the state Legislature.
"If pathological liar Joe Biden fails tonight this is the next pathological liar they'll replace him with," Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon said of Whitmer on social media.
Yes, but: Michigan swing voters in an Axios focus group had mostly positive things to say about Whitmer when asked last summer about a potential presidential bid — even those who opposed her.
A January Detroit News poll of 600 likely Michigan voters found Whitmer outperforming Biden in matchups against former President Trump.
