Portland, Oregon — Following last week’s contentious presidential debate, Democratic state leaders in the Pacific Northwest convened a virtual meeting with President Joe Biden to discuss the campaign.
Oregon Gov. Kotek’s political advisor, Thomas Wheatley, verified that the governor will attend the conference. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s Director of Communications, Jaime Smith, told KOIN 6 that Inslee, who is not running for re-election, would also attend.
Biden’s meeting with Democratic leaders took place Wednesday afternoon. Wheatly provided a breakdown of the discussion between Kotek and Biden in a follow-up email with KOIN 6 News just after 5:30 p.m., indicating sustained support for the President.
“Oregon Governor Tina Kotek met virtually with President Biden today, along with other Democratic Governors, some of whom were present at the White House.” The meeting was a fruitful discussion about how the President can win in November to safeguard our democracy from the clear and present danger posed by Donald Trump.”
The discussion comes after certain leaders expressed concerns about the president’s ability to govern the country based on his performance during the debate. On Tuesday, Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett became the first Democratic leader to call for Biden’s resignation.
The representative anticipated the debate would boost the president’s poll numbers, but Biden failed to properly defend his accomplishments.
According to a CNN poll issued on Tuesday, 75% of Americans say Democrats would have a greater chance of winning the presidential election if they had a different candidate.
“My decision to make these strong reservations public is not done lightly nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has achieved,” Doggett explained in a statement. “Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Biden’s first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw.”
In response to concerns raised during the debate, the White House conducted a briefing in which Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that Biden was suffering from a cold and jet lag.
Meanwhile, the president has stated that while he “might not” debate as much as he once did, he is still capable of performing his duties. He has also shifted the spotlight away from Trump, claiming that he set the record for the most lies ever stated in a debate.
