Gov. Andy Beshear to Biden: Have an 'open conversation' about health

Rebecca Grapevine, Louisville Courier Journal
·2 min read
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Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear called on President Joe Biden to speak directly to the American people about his health during a White House meeting this week.

Beshear, along with other Democratic governors, met the president at the White House on Wednesday to discuss concerns about Biden’s health following a poor debate performance late last month.

“I said that our president is known for being a straight talker, telling the American people the truth, and my recommendation was that he have an open conversation with the public about the status of his health,” Beshear told reporters Friday in Louisville.

“I believe that you run towards problems not away from them. There's no question the president took a hit in that debate and that people are worried about his health and want to hear directly from him,” Beshear said. "He is the president of the United States and needs to be able to speak to all those citizens directly about it."

The president “was in control of the room” and answered the governors’ questions for about an hour, Beshear said.

“He asked for really candid advice and responded to it,” Beshear said of the governors’ meeting with Biden.

Could Beshear end up running?

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear visited west Louisville's Parkland neighborhood to survey the storm damage after an E1 tornado on the Fourth of July damaged several homes in Louisville, Kentucky. Walking with Beshear is Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, left; Louisville EMA executive director Edward Jody Meiman; and Kentucky Sen. Gerald Neal at far right. Behind them is U.S. Senator Morgan McGarvey on crutches.

Beshear said he plans to attend the August Democratic National Convention in Chicago as a delegate from Kentucky but has not yet been invited to speak.

The governor said his name is being floated as a possible vice presidential or even presidential nominee because “what's going on in Kentucky is really exciting,” pointing to economic development projects, growing tourism and a decrease in overdose deaths as successes.

Beshear said his record has transcended partisan divides and is likely one reason his name is being considered for the Democratic presidential ticket. But Beshear reiterated that Biden is still the Democratic nominee and he continues to support the president's candidacy.

Still, Beshear did not categorically reject the possibility of running for higher office.

“The only way I would ever consider anything other than this job, which I love, is if I felt that I could help this Commonwealth in special and important ways," Beshear said.

Gov. Andy Beshear talks to Tonya Perry on Woodland Avenue about the storm damage after an E1 tornado on the Fourth of July that hit parts of west Louisville, Kentucky. At center is Louisville mayor Craig Greenburg.
Gov. Andy Beshear talks to Tonya Perry on Woodland Avenue about the storm damage after an E1 tornado on the Fourth of July that hit parts of west Louisville, Kentucky. At center is Louisville mayor Craig Greenburg.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll this week had Beshear pulling 36% of the vote in a hypothetical presidential matchup against Donald Trump, who garnered 40%.

Still, Beshear lacked national name recognition, with more than two-thirds of the Democrats polled saying they had not heard of him.

Along with Vice President Kamala Harris, other Democratic governors whose names have been suggested as possible top-of-ticket candidates include Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer, California’s Gavin Newsom, and Maryland’s Wes Moore.

A Biden interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos — Biden's first since the debate — airs Friday night.

Reach Rebecca Grapevine at rgrapevine@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @RebGrapevine.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: What Gov. Andy Beshear told President Joe Biden at the White House