Whitmer Blasts Report That Says Biden Can't Win Michigan

MICHIGAN — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer blasted a Politico report suggesting she told Biden campaign officials that he could not win the state in the upcoming U.S. presidential election after his lackluster debate performance.

"Anyone who claims I would say that we can’t win Michigan is full of sh-t," Whitmer said in a social media post Monday.

The Politico report said she warned Democrats that Biden had lost Michigan after he stumbled through his debate with Republican front-runner and former President Donald Trump last Thursday.

The report cited "someone close to a potential 2028 Whitmer rival for the Democratic presidential nomination." However, an aide to Whitmer told the Associated Press the comment was not true.

The report comes as many, including the New York Times Editorial Board, are calling for Biden to drop out of the upcoming U.S. presidential race after his lackluster performance in the debate.

Whitmer, along with Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom have been floated to possibly replace Biden at the Democratic Convention in August.

Whitmer, who is a rising in the Democratic Party, however, voiced support for Biden, and said she is behind him 100 percent in the fight to defeat Donald Trump.

"Not only do I believe Joe can win Michigan, I know he can because he’s got the receipts: he’s lowered health care costs, brought back manufacturing jobs and is committed to restoring the reproductive freedom women lost under Donald Trump," Whitmer said.

Michigan, which is usually a true battleground state in the U.S. presidential election, is expected to be in play again in 2024. Many analysts believe who carrys Michigan will likely win the election. Trump won Michigan in 2016 and then Biden in 2024.

Biden, 81, has not indicated that he's considering dropping out of the race.