'I Urge Him To Listen': First Democrat Governor Demands Biden Choose 'The Best Path Forward' To Defeat Trump

On Friday, Gov. Maura Healey (D-MA) became the first governor to subtly encourage President Joe Biden to step aside after she and other Democrat governors met with him on Wednesday. Healey's comments come as President Biden has doubled down on staying in the race and put tens of millions of dollars into new ad campaigns in swing states across the country.

"President Biden saved our democracy in 2020 and has done an outstanding job over the last four years. I am deeply grateful for his leadership. And I know he agrees this is the most important election of our lifetimes," Gov. Healey wrote. "The best way forward right now is a decision for the President to make. Over the coming days, I urge him to listen to the American people and carefully evaluate whether he remains our best hope to defeat Donald Trump.  Whatever President Biden decides, I am committed to doing everything in my power to defeat Donald Trump."

The Massachusetts governor's statement comes after she met with the president on Wednesday in an effort by the White House to reassure the Democrat executives that he is still able to run a re-election campaign. The president reportedly told the governors that his extensive foreign travel caused his debate disaster. Despite initially alleging that Biden suffered from a cold during the debate, the White House has since claimed that his recent travels to Europe, which took place more than a week and a half before the debate, impacted his performance.

On top of blaming his overseas trip, Biden told the governors that his schedule has been too demanding and that he will work with his staff to ensure a more balanced approach that allows him to rest more often. When Gov. Josh Green (D-HI), a physician, asked about his health, President Biden said that his health was fine, telling the Democrat executives, "It's just my brain." Biden campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon later came out and explained Biden "was clearly making a joke" about his health rather than the remark being serious. 

The meeting with some of the most important officials in the Democrat Party seemed to reassure them of his competence. "[Joe Biden] is our nominee. He is in it to win it, and I support him," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) wrote to X after the meeting. "I heard three words from the President tonight -- he's all in. And so am I. [Joe Biden] 's had our back. Now it's time to have his," Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) wrote. However, Gov. Healey's statement is the first sign that the meeting failed to have the intended effect.

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