Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer has recently stated that “it wouldn’t hurt” for President Joe Biden to take a cognitive test amid questions about his age and mental fitness.
Whitmer’s comments come as many have floated her name as a potential replacement for the president, were he to actually step down as the Democratic nominee for president.
President Joe Biden’s Bad Debate Performance
The Democratic Party has been in disarray since Biden’s debate performance against former President Donald Trump.
Many analysts have questioned Biden’s age and mental acuity after this bad debate performance, which saw the president answer questions shakily and, at times, unclearly.
Calls for Biden to Step Down
Some have claimed that this debate performance was so bad that Biden needs to step down as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee for November’s election.
These critics — who are both Democrats and independents — have explained that Biden’s polling has dropped majorly since the debate, as Americans have seen that the president isn’t as sharp as he used to be.
Biden Stays Strong
Even with this growing criticism of the president, Biden has stayed strong against all the attacks, even those from within his own party.
Since his debate, Biden has said he will not step down. Instead, he will continue to run as the Democratic nominee — and, according to him, beat Trump once again.
Whitmer Stands by Biden
Whitmer has remained one of Biden’s strongest public supporters during this entire debacle. However, when she recently appeared on CNN, anchor Abby Phillip asked her whether she thought Biden and Trump should both take a cognitive test.
Whitmer admitted that Biden performed badly at the debate and said, “I don’t think that would hurt, to be honest.”
Whitmer Defends Biden
Though Whitmer did state that she didn’t think it would hurt Biden’s reelection chances if he took a cognitive test, she still remained loyal to Biden running as president.
After explaining that Trump cares more about himself than the American people, Whitmer said that Biden “shows up every day and fights for the American public.”
It’s Biden’s Decision
Whitmer, similarly to other Democrats who openly support Biden, also said that it’s Biden’s decision to either keep running or step down.
She said, “We have a field, and unless one person, Joe Biden, makes an alternative decision, this is the field, and we’ve got to go.”
Whitmer Denies She’ll Take Biden’s Spot
Whitmer also criticized how many people are seeking to choose another Democratic candidate as if it’s “fantasy football.” Whitmer previously claimed she doesn’t like seeing media reports that suggest she could take Biden’s spot and run for president herself.
“It’s a distraction more than anything,” she explained. “I don’t like seeing my name in articles like that because I’m totally focused on governing and campaigning for the [Biden-Kamala Harris] ticket.”
Inaccurate Reporting?
However, previous reporting did suggest that Whitmer had been more critical of Biden behind closed doors, even going so far as to warn him that he won’t win Michigan come November thanks to his bad debate performance — and his refusal to step down.
After this reporting made mainstream headlines, Whitmer came out and said it was inaccurate.
Biden Proving Himself
Whitmer, as well as many other major Democratic lawmakers, have opened up about how Biden needs to prove himself to the American people — and show them that he’s still capable of getting the job done.
Whitmer explained that the president has “got to prove to people he is up to the moment, and I think he’s going to.”
Calls for Biden to Step Down Grow
Though some suggested that the efforts to kick Biden off of the presidential ticket were subsiding, now it appears calls for the president to step down and not run for president are growing.
So far, at least 13 House Democrats have called on Biden to step down from the race. Meanwhile, one Democratic senator has done the same. Reporting has even suggested that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is open to having another candidate on the Democratic ticket.
Hollywood Stars Ask Biden to Leave Race
Many megadonors, such as the Disney heiress, have also called on Biden to step down, as they believe he now won’t win the election against Trump.
Various Hollywood stars have done the same, most notably Stephen King and Rob Reiner. George Clooney even wrote an op-ed in The New York Times saying that he loved Joe Biden, but it was time for him to save the country again — by stepping aside and allowing someone else to run in his place.
