(WHTM) – Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro came to the defense of President Joe Biden on Thursday after some called for Shapiro to replace Biden on the Democratic Party ticket following Biden’s debate performance.
“I think Joe Biden had a bad debate night, but it doesn’t change the fact that Donald Trump was a bad president,” said Shapiro during a Friday morning appearance on “Morning Joe.”
Shapiro later added that during the debate Trump “not only lied about his past, but lied about the kinds of things he’s proposing for the future.”
Biden appeared to brush off concerns over his debate performance where he stumbled multiple times and had a hoarse voice, to which he pointed to having a sore throat.
“The chatter is very distracting, and it’s going to be very consuming for the campaign,” former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki said on MSNBC. “Should he be replaced? They’re going to be answering that question instead of breaking through on attacking Trump.”
On Friday the Associated Press named Shapiro as a Democrat who has endorsed Biden but may have their own presidential aspirations. Others in that conversation included California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker and California Rep. Ro Khanna.
Colin Dunlap of KDKA Pittsburgh radio posted to X “Josh Shapiro is absolutely the strongest Democrat in this country. There is no question…. He should be the guy.” Another account on X said If the Dems were to replace Biden, I think the politician the GOP should fear the most would be PA governor Josh Shapiro. He is young (for a politician), articulate, highly intelligent and very personable.”
Google Trends data shows following the debate, national searches for him spiked.
A 2023 Muhlenberg College’s Institute of Public Opinion poll found Shapiro beating Trump 48% to 37% with 11% leaning toward another candidate and 4% unsure. In addition, an Engagious/Sago focus group study released by Axios last year found Pennsylvania swing voters wanted to see Shapiro run for president over Biden.
Shapiro was asked shortly after winning the governor’s race in November whether he had any ambition to be the nation’s first Jewish president, to which he had “ambition to get a little bit of sleep” and to serve the people of Pennsylvania.
Shapiro also appeared irked at a question while appearing with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in Dauphin County over their political futures, shaking his head when the question was asked to Buttigieg.
But that still hasn’t silenced the calls for Shapiro to make a run for the White House, whether it be this year or in 2028. Former Pennsylvania Lieutenant and Acting Governor Mark Singel called Shapiro “the real deal” and someone who’s “going to be a star.”
“He was a member of the (State) House of Representatives, he’s been running for President since he was 12 years old, and he’s good at it, right? He doesn’t really miss a trick, and he presents himself well and he handles the press so beautifully.”
Muhlenberg’s Spring 2024 survey found Shapiro with a 64% approval rating in his first term as Governor.
