Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer rejects calls to 'Draft Gretch' for president

After a disastrous performance at the CNN Presidential Debate in Atlanta on Thursday, critics and supporters alike have called for President Joe Biden to step down from the ticket and let another candidate run as the Democratic nominee.

But the face of one such movement — Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer — is among those dismissing calls to replace Biden and urging Democrats to stick by their presumptive presidential candidate. Despite calls to “draft Gretch,” as her constituents affectionately call her, she is standing by Biden — for now, at least.

“If we want to protect our fundamental freedoms and democracy, then we need to re-elect @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris,” she posted on X , formerly Twitter.

According to an exclusive USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll , over 40% of Democrats said the Democratic Party should replace Biden as its presidential nominee. That included 37% of those who say they plan to vote for him.

For some, Whitmer is a tantalizing choice: A two-term, swing-state Democratic governor, she has survived right-wing attacks over her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and a kidnapping plot . As a national campaign co-chair for Biden, she's taken the lead on Biden's reelection campaign in a key battleground state. Her memoir , “True Gretch: What I've Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between,” will be released on July 9.

But for now, at least, Whitmer’s bid for a 2024 presidency seems unlikely. In May, she authored an op-ed in the Detroit Free Press urging voters to re-elect Biden, and has maintained that stance since the debate. Whitmer’s spokespeople have also maintained their unequivocal support for Biden.

More: Biden's rocky debate performance prompts new calls for Whitmer to step in

"Joe Biden is our nominee and the Governor is proud to support him," Helen Hare, a spokesperson for the Whitmer PAC supporting the President's reelection campaign, told the Detroit Free Press in an email.

Maya Homan is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on Georgia politics. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, as @MayaHoman.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer rejects calls to 'Draft Gretch' for president