Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said Monday that he will support President Biden’s reelection bid as long as he remains the Democratic nominee, despite Biden’s “rough” performance in the first presidential debate on Thursday night. fair.
“The debate performance was difficult. It was a very bad night for the president, but he is still the candidate. Only he can make decisions about his future candidacy. So as long as he stays in the race, I will support him,” Beshear told reporters in a clip posted by CBS News affiliate WLKY.
Beshear secured his place as a rising star in the Democratic Party last November when he was re-elected in the red state of Kentucky against his Republican opponent, state Attorney General Daniel Cameron.
Beshear was one of the most popular governors in the country, but his comfortable victory in 2023 has fueled discussions about a future presidential run.
In his comments to reporters, Beshear avoided directly answering the question about whether he was considering replacing Biden if the president changed his mind about running for a second term.
“Only the president can determine his future as a candidate,” Beshear told reporters. “He is the candidate and as long as he is, I will support him.”
When pressed again, Beshear said, “it’s flattering when people mention your name in something like this, but I think it’s a reflection of all the good things that are happening in Kentucky.”
The exchange comes as Biden’s shaky performance in Thursday’s debate has sparked discussion among some Democrats about the possibility of finding a new candidate to lead the Democratic ticket.
Biden’s campaign has mounted a fierce effort to counter that narrative and quell any concerns about the president’s ability to lead the ticket.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
