Whitmer warns Biden team he can’t win Michigan after debate flop – but insists she won’t replace him

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer warned that President Joe Biden’s chances of winning the state are now over after his disappointing performance at the debate last week.

Biden had hoped to silence critics who questioned his age and mental fitness when he faced Donald Trump on stage Thursday night during the first televised debate of the 2024 election.

But instead of allaying concerns, the 81-year-old reinforced the stereotype with his awkward and clumsy performance. He reportedly led to divided opinion among members of his party about whether he was the right candidate for the White House.

Despite growing support for Whitmer’s possible presidential candidacy as a Democrat, the former senator quickly dismissed any possibility of a candidacy and denied that she was behind the growing effort.

Sources with knowledge of the matter, who wished to remain anonymous, said Politico In a phone call between Whitmer and Biden’s campaign manager Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, the Democrat expressed her growing frustration and said she “hates” being named as a possible Biden replacement candidate.

In the phone call, Whitmer reiterated her support for Biden’s re-election campaign.

But despite her loyalty, another source said, Whitmer gave Biden a scathing warning: Because of his performance in the debate, her state was “no longer winnable” for the president.

As a swing state, Michigan has played a crucial role in the last two presidential elections and could prove crucial for Biden in his quest for a second term.

In 2020, the state flipped the vote to Democrats, and Whitmer cruised to a second term in 2022, finishing 10 points ahead of her Republican rival.

If Biden loses the state to likely Republican candidate Donald Trump in November this year, it would be a devastating blow to the Democrats.

While the congresswoman appeared to refuse to take on the incumbent president, her former adviser Mark Burton The Telegraph He believes she is convinced that she can beat Trump if the two fight for the Oval Office.

While Whitmer is gaining support, Vice President Kamala Harris remains the most popular candidate to succeed Biden should he drop out of the race, according to a recent poll by Date for Progress. The average of recent polls would have Trump six points ahead of Harris in the race for the office.

If Biden does not resign, he could be replaced in two ways before the November election.

Democrats could invoke the 25th Amendment and try to replace Biden with Harris. Or delegates at the Democratic convention in Chicago could revolt and elect someone other than Biden in the August plenary session.

Whitmer’s continued support for Biden was also supported by other prominent Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former House Majority Whip James Clyburn.

Other party members, however, were more scathing in their criticism of Biden.

Minnesota Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips published a scathing nine-word X-post last week that appeared to target Biden. “Speak only if it improves the silence – Gandhi,” he wrote on X.