Biden plans to meet with Democratic governors and look to shore up support after shaky debate

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden has invited all Democratic governors to meet Wednesday as he tries to shore up support among top party leaders after last week’s elections shaky debate performance.

The discussion is likely to take place largely virtually, according to two people familiar with Biden’s plan, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss a schedule that has not yet been made public.

The president criticized the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity on Monday night, but had otherwise announced a largely politics-free, business-as-usual schedule for after the debates — including planning Fourth of July celebrations at the White House for Thursday’s holiday.

The meeting is the strongest indication yet that Biden is trying to calm fears among some Democrats who fear he may not be able to sustain a campaign, let alone defeat Donald Trump, after his sometimes hoarse and halting performance at last week’s debate in Atlanta.

Democratic Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas Tuesday called for Biden’s formal withdrawal of the race. But most of the party’s most senior leaders in Congress and elsewhere have continued to support him, at least for now.

There is also no indication that the president is seriously considering resigning.

His campaign has played down the president’s political problems in a series of memos and private meetings with donors, strategists and party insiders, insisting that Biden can have one bad debate performance without hurting his long-term chances in November.