Last week, the nation’s Democratic governors gathered with President Joe Biden as he worked to reassure them of his campaign’s viability following a debate that jeopardized his reelection prospects.
It was a pivotal moment in Biden’s lengthy political career, as he sought to rally support for a campaign that many Democratic lawmakers and voters believe he should forgo in favor of another candidate.
However, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who attended the White House meeting, is clear in his decision. He told Business Insider that he stands with Biden.
Moore was also frank in his assessment of Biden’s debate performance against former President Donald Trump. “It was a terrible performance and I don’t think you can sugarcoat it,” the first-term governor said. “The problem is it was hard to watch.”
Moore, a former US Army paratrooper who often relies on his military training in tough situations, said the next step is to “move on” and figure out how to support Biden. “In the military, there’s only three answers for something: Yes, no, or no excuse,” he continued. “Everything else is a waste of time. And I think the answer to this is no excuse.”
Elected in 2022, Moore said Biden has been a strong partner for Maryland, so he is returning the favor.
At the governors’ meeting, Moore said Biden outlined a strategy for the final months of his campaign. “The thing that we left with was that there’s not only the plan, but also that there’s the focus and the commitment and the energy,” Moore said of the sentiment among the governors.
“And I was clear, I don’t do disloyalty,” he continued. “This is an administration that has been with us when we were knocked down, which I saw when I received a call from them when we were mobilizing units to respond to the Key Bridge crisis.”
Moore referred to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in March, after the container vessel Dali struck the bridge and sent it into the Patapsco River. Tragically, six construction workers lost their lives while repairing potholes on the bridge.
The governor has worked closely with the Biden administration following the bridge’s collapse, valuing the relationship as the administration works to secure full federal funding for the bridge’s replacement.
However, there is no consensus among the Democratic base regarding Biden’s candidacy.
Among the Democratic voters who elected Biden four years ago and overwhelmingly supported him in the most recent Democratic primaries, now many are questioning his ability to run the country as he is right now.
In Moore’s view, Biden needs to be visible and present to reassure them. “I think he’s got to be out there,” the governor said. “I think he’s got to keep doing what he’s doing right now. He’s got to show people in unscripted moments that the agility this job requires and the stability this job requires … that he’s best prepared to do that.”
“One thing I know about elections is nothing is given and everything is earned,” he continued. “You’ve got to win by being the most aggressive, thoughtful, and visionary campaigner out there, and you need to have people who buy your vision. So I think the president cannot take anything for granted.”