Earlier today there was a story that my governor, Tim Walz, has been talking to other governors who are deeply concerned about Biden's debate performance. The consensus was that nothing would calm the waters save, perhaps, a meeting with the president to discuss the path forward. 

Replacing rest of this thread with the story we wrote on the topic, since story is developing: https://t.co/XSLqiNKsgC

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) July 2, 2024

Washington

CNN—Some Democratic governors are seeking a meeting with the White House to discuss their concerns about President Joe Biden in the aftermath of his poor debate performance, multiple sources with knowledge of the discussions told CNN.

The concern from some of the nation’s Democratic governors were aired on a call Monday organized by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, one of the sources said. The call was attended by governors only.

On the call, some of the governors expressed surprise that a few of them had not heard from Biden himself about his debate performance. There was a strong sentiment on the call that they needed to hear from Biden directly on the matter.

There was also some discussion of having Vice President Kamala Harris address them.

The governors, one of the sources said, were worried about going public with their concerns out of fear that it would lead to Biden digging in further. Plans for the meeting at the White House are underway but it has not been scheduled.

The White House is eyeing a meeting with Democratic governors on Wednesday, a source familiar with the matter says. The meeting at the White House would likely include a mix of in-person and virtual attendance, the source said.

Well, apparently the White House has gotten the message. CBS News is now reporting that Biden is acceding to the demands and has opened up a slot in his busy, busy schedule that covers the long hours between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M. to meet with them. 

I am joking about that last part. We don't know when the meeting will be scheduled or who will show up in person and who on Zoom. 

JUST IN: President Biden will meet with Democratic governors amid concerns following his shaky debate performance. https://t.co/QUlEXNxLFJ

— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) July 2, 2024

This is a big break from the White House's and the campaign's strategy up until now. Campaign aides, not the president, have been reaching out to donors and the members of the Democrat National Committee to lecture them and tell them to get back into line. Karen has a story coming out later today about the (not very productive) outreach to big donors and the DNC.

It's been brutal. Donors are feeling "gaslit," probably because they are being gaslit. 

The governors are not tolerating the same treatment--actually, up to now, even worse treatment. They demanded to see the president (some will appear remotely, others in person), and they are getting their wish. 

President Biden plans to hold a meeting with Democratic governors Wednesday, CBS News has learned, as the White House and his reelection campaign work to shore up support for him after last week's shaky debate performance. Some will attend in person, while others will attend virtually.

The meeting comes as the White House and Biden campaign work to keep Democratic governors and other elected Democrats in the fold after his rocky debate.

The meeting is notable because up until this point, it's mostly been Mr. Biden's top aides and advisers who have been reaching out to elected Democrats to reassure them after his debate performance. His meeting with governors comes after members of the Democratic Governors' Association held a call Monday to discuss the ongoing response to Thursday's debate and a widespread concern among the state chief executives that Mr. Biden has done little outreach to governors, specifically over the course of the campaign year, according to two people familiar with arrangements for the call.

The Biden campaign had been trying to arrange time for Vice President Harris to speak with governors, but the governors decided Monday they wanted to hear directly from the president.

Can you imagine what it would be like to be a Democrat governor and be told that you could only talk to Kamala Harris? How insulting can you get?

Nobody cares about Kamala or wants to talk to her. Hearing about being "unburdened by what has come before" would make them retch. 

In the days since the debate, just New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy — who hosted one of the fundraisers the president and first lady attended over the weekend in the New York area — is the only known governor to have spoken directly to Mr. Biden since the debate.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear told reporters Monday that "the debate performance was rough," but that he will continue to support Mr. Biden "so long as he continues to be in the race." Beshear added that Mr. Biden is the candidate, and "only he can make decisions about his candidacy." 

The big question is: will the governors be there to listen to Joe Biden or to tell Joe Biden what they think? 

If it is the former, the message will be clear: Biden intends to stay in. If the latter, it is likely that at least some governors will voice their belief that he should leave the race. Not every governor is facing the voters this election cycle, but every one of them has a big stake in the outcome. 

The bad news keeps coming in for Biden. CNN's new poll shows Kamala Harris--whom nobody likes--pulling ahead of Joe Biden in a prospective race against Trump. 

CNN Post-debate Poll

Trump 49%
Biden 43%

Trump 47%
Harris 45%

Trump 48%
Newsom 43%

Trump 47%
Buttigieg 43%

Trump 47%
Whitmer 42%https://t.co/pUc9IN3YCo

— Political Election Projections (@tencor_7144) July 2, 2024

That's likely more a function of a collapse in confidence in Biden than a pop in Harris' popularity. She is the VP and has the name ID, and Democrats are getting desperate. 

Come to think of it, maybe those governors should make a little time to meet with Kamala. It is not outside the realm of possibility that she COULD be the Democrat nominee, even though nobody wants that. She is the only person who would inherit Biden's campaign war chest if he left the race. 

I wouldn't bet on that, though.