“I’m seeing a number of Democrats weak in the knees right now. This is not the time to do that,” Gov. Dan McKee tells reporters Thursday.
Jul 19, 2024 12:36 pm EDT
PROVIDENCE, RI — Despite reports of prominent Democrats calling on President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 election, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee publicly remained in support of the incumbents campaign.
McKee told reporters Thursday he does not believe Biden will drop out, and called for Democratic leaders to stand behind him. McKee’s comments came after he visited the president earlier this month for a meeting with other democratic governors and Biden.
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“Until he takes a different direction, and I don’t believe he will, we have to circle the wagons,” McKee said. “I’m seeing a number of Democrats weak in the knees right now. This is not the time to do that. This is the time to circle the wagon around the candidate who has already been successful in winning an election against the Republican candidate that he is going to run against.”
“He’s seasoned, no doubt about that, but he’s got experience,” McKee added. “And yeah, his walk is not as quick as it was at one time, but his mind is still there.”
McKee’s support for the president came the same day a flurry of reports Thursday that Biden might step aside as soon as this weekend under pressure from prominent democrats like Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama and Chuck Schumer. Biden was also diagnosed Wednesday with COVID-19, hindering his campaigning schedule.
McKee’s comments also come the same day seven state senators in neighboring Massachusetts released a joint letter calling on Biden to exit the race.
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