Blood in the Water? Possible Biden Replacement Pitches Himself, Says President Must Make Decision About Candidacy After ‘Very Bad’ Debate

(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D), whose name has been floated as a possible replacement for Presiden t Joe Biden atop the Democratic ticket, offered a frank evaluation of the president’s performance in last Thursday’s presidential debate with Donald Trump on Monday.

Asked for his reaction to the debate during a press gaggle, Beshear replied that “the debate performance was rough.”

“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 continues to be in the race, I support him,” replied Beshear, who notably was not even asked about Biden potentially standing down.

At that point, Beshear was asked if he might throw his hat in the ring should Biden decide to drop out.

Beshear’s first instinct was to again acknowledge that “only the president can determine his future as a candidate. He is the candidate, and as long as he is, I’m supporting him.”

But when he was again pressed on the matter, he took the opportunity to make a soft pitch:

Well, listen, it’s flattering when people mention your name in something like that. But I think it’s a reflection of all the good things going on in Kentucky. As compared to the rest of the country, the temperature’s been turned down here. Democrats and Republicans all excited about the jobs we’re creating, the investment that we’re seeing, the record low unemployment, the record low recidivism, decreases in our overdose deaths. Those are all really good things.

So I think the rest of the country turns to us and says, “How can a Democratic governor, a Republican General Assembly, create really good results?” And I think the answer to that is everything is not partisan. And people are tired of the clashes day in and day out. So when they look at what we have done in Kentucky, they see a better future that’s beyond some of the back and forth that we see on the federal level.

Other potential Biden replacements include Vice President Kamala Harris , Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer , and California Governor Gavin Newsom .