Biden’s staunchest supporters featured prominently among potential successors

Prominent Democrats being floated as replacements for President Biden as their party’s nominee are defending his candidacy despite other members of the party calling on him to step down.

Biden is facing calls from nearly a dozen Democratic lawmakers to step down as the 2024 nominee following his damaging performance at the first presidential debate.

While many Democrats are voicing concerns over his ability to serve, several lawmakers being named as potential Biden replacements should he step down are amplifying their support for the president.

Democrats Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg have all shown support for Biden’s re-election efforts since being named as potential candidates to replace Biden.

FETTERMAN DOUBLES DOWN ON SUPPORT FOR BIDEN AMID CALLS FOR HIM TO WITHDRAW: ‘HE’S BEEN A GREAT PRESIDENT’

“@JoeBiden is in it to win it, and I’m damn proud to support him,” Whitmer wrote in a post on X Wednesday.

Whitmer defended the president several times after the debate and most recently suggested on CNN that it wouldn’t hurt for Biden to take a cognitive test to address concerns about his mental competency.

HUGE MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS SAY BIDEN MUST STEP ASIDE EVEN AS BIDEN-TRUMP HORSE RACE IS TIED: POLL

Newsom hit the campaign trial for Biden after the debate, telling voters the president has the energy to serve another term as president.

“I was asked and tasked by President Biden, proudly, to fly from California to Georgia to represent the campaign right after that debate,” Newsom recently told supporters at a Van Buren Dems BBQ for Biden-Harris in Michigan. 

Newsom joined 20 Democratic governors in a private meeting with Biden at the White House just days after the debate, which he claims eased concerns over the…