LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As Democrats try to figure out their best path forward to succeed in the November election, President Joe Biden is working to quell any concerns about his health or mental fitness.
Biden hosted dozens of Democratic governors on Wednesday evening, including 10 in person in Washington D.C., to directly address the fallout of what many have called a disastrous debate performance last week.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear was in that meeting. WHAS11 is told it was the governors themselves who pushed for the discussion to happen, and that the President ensured them he'll be making more public appearances in the coming days, without a teleprompter, to ease any worries about his ability to seek a second term.
It was the kind of conversation Beshear publicly suggested in an interview with CNN's Pamela Brown -- a Kentuckian herself -- earlier this week.
"The governors just want a direct and candid conversation with the President – we want to make sure he's doing OK. We all know him," Beshear told Brown on Tuesday. "I don't think that there's anything wrong with asking the President to talk to the American people a little bit more about his health or that debate performance."
And on Thursday outside Louisville Metro Hall, WHAS11 asked prominent Kentucky Democrats what to make of Beshear's trip to the nation's capital.
"I think Andy has a lot of good advice to offer," former U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth said.
Yarmuth, who represented Louisville in Kentucky's 3rd Congressional district for years, was amongst several lawmakers who stood on the steps of Metro Hall for an annual reading of the Declaration of Independence, in celebration of the 4th of July.
Beshear's name has been floated as a potential viable contender to make a run for the White House in some fashion if Biden were to drop out of the race.
"I've talked to him before about it. I think it's flattering to him and to Kentucky," Yarmuth, who has known Beshear for years, said.
Congressman Morgan McGarvey, a Louisville Democrat who succeeded Yarmuth, touted Beshear's "amazing record," but wouldn't say whether he thinks an imminent run for national office is in the cards.
Regarding Biden, McGarvey did make it clear there's concern amongst Democrats on Capitol Hill after a "terrible" debate performance that "isn't what anyone wanted to see."
"We've got to make sure that that doesn't continue going forward, and that we're in the best spot to win in November," McGarvey told WHAS11.
When asked whether he thought Beshear would consider a run for the White House if a vacancy presented itself in the coming months, Yarmuth answered, "I think he'd have to. He's too young to retire."
In recent days, Beshear has told reporters he's not going to speculate the possibility, instead pointing to the attention being "flattering" and that it points to Kentucky's success along with bipartisan accomplishments.
Since being reelected in November 2023, Beshear has repeatedly committed to completing his second term as Kentucky Governor which ends in Dec. 2027.
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.