Minutes after President Biden walked off the debate stage, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was among the first names floated by pundits as a potential emergency replacement.
Why it matters: Her position on unofficial shortlists underscores the governor's standing as a rising national figure in the Democratic Party.
- It also boosts her name recognition with out-of-state voters and is an indicator of her staying power beyond this election cycle, her supporters argue.
Driving the news: Concerns over whether Biden can do the job for four more years ramped up Thursday following the first presidential debate, where his "awful" performance left Democrats "in a state of shock," Axios' Andrew Solender reported.
Reality check: A Biden adviser told CNN on Friday that not only would the president not drop out, but he also intends to participate in a second debate this fall.
State of play: Whitmer's stardom has grown in the national Democratic Party since she helped Michigan flip the Legislature, which scored the first Democratic trifecta in a generation.
Between the lines: Part of her appeal lies in her experience working across the aisle while championing Democratic causes like gun safety measures , abortion access and civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ residents .
- The governor launched a national political group last year in an effort to boost her public profile.
- She also wrote a book — a tradition for presidential hopefuls — titled "True Gretch," releasing July 9.
The other side: Locally, she's been vilified by opponents on the election trail and Republican rivals in the state Legislature.
- "If pathological liar Joe Biden fails tonight this is the next pathological liar they'll replace him with," Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon said of Whitmer on social media.
Yes, but: Michigan swing voters in an Axios focus group had mostly positive things to say about Whitmer when asked last summer about a potential presidential bid — even those who opposed her.
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