‘I screwed up’: Biden told concerned Dem governors he had a medical check-up after last week’s car crash debate and ‘knocked on wood’ when he revealed he is in good health as he tried to shore up support

Joe Biden has admitted he made a “mistake” in last week’s car crash debate and called an emergency meeting yesterday to try to drum up support among concerned Democratic governors.

The president reportedly said during the meeting that he underwent a medical examination in the days following last week’s televised clash with Republican nominee Donald Trump, during which he appeared tired and stumbled over his words.

In response to a question from a governor about his physical condition, Biden insisted he remains in good health, knocking on wood for effect, Politico reports quotes insiders.

In an effort to allay fears about his fitness to run and emphasize his belief that he could sustain the campaign, he reportedly told the 20 governors involved: “I’m the nominee of the Democratic Party. Nobody’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving.”

He also used yesterday to apologize. In an interview with a Wisconsin radio station, he admitted he made a “mistake” with his poor performance during the debate. However, he urged voters to judge him on his time in the White House.

Maine’s Democratic Governor Janet Mills told Biden directly that she had no problem with his age, but that she didn’t think he was qualified to take on Donald Trump.

Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico questioned whether Biden could even beat Trump in her state, sources present said

New York’s Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul unanimously expressed her support for the ailing president (81) after the meeting yesterday, but other politicians present say she has no right to do so.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills didn’t hold back on Biden’s performance during last week’s debate, telling him directly that she had no problem with his age, but that she didn’t think he was qualified to take on Donald Trump.

The governor, along with Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico and Ned Lamont of Connecticut, asked what his next move would be, saying they needed to make his position clear to their constituents.

They all wondered if he could beat Trump in their states, according to sources present. No Democrat has lost Connecticut or Maine since 1988.

“Of course, like many Americans, we are a little concerned. We are concerned because the threat of a Trump presidency is not theoretical,” Walz said.

Biden tried to win over the governors by promising that he would “do everything I can to win,” and he also managed to win over some supporters.

Several liberal governors, such as would-be successors Gavin Newsom of California and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, followed Hochul’s lead and submissively expressed their support on Twitter after the meeting.

Ned Lamont of Connecticut wondered what his path forward was, saying he needed to inform his constituents

California Governor Gavin Newsom, who was in attendance in person, posted his reaction on the social platform X: “I heard three words from the president tonight: He’s all in. And so am I.”

Many governors, including Whitmer, attended the meeting only virtually. Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was also in attendance.

The summit came after nearly a week of bad press and calls to withdraw from the race following his disastrous debate with Trump.

It lasted more than an hour and those present described the conversation as “candid” and a kind of pep talk.

New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul (pictured center) unanimously offered her support for the ailing president, 81, after the rally, but other politicians present say she has no right to

Vice President Kamala Harris, who is seen by many as Trump’s likely successor, closed the meeting by reiterating how dangerous a Trump victory would be for democracy, the New York Times reported.

Several governors tried to convince Democrats that Biden was capable of doing this and that they owed him their support.

“The president has always supported us. We will support him,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore told reporters.

“The president… he is our nominee. The president is our party leader,” he added.

Moore, Hochul and Tim Walz of Minnesota, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, were the only three of the 12 attendees who spoke personally to the media.

Biden’s campaign team said the president reiterated his determination “to defeat the existential threat posed by Donald Trump at the ballot box in November” and discussed the importance of electing Democrats across all constituencies.

“All participants reiterated their collective commitment to do everything possible to ensure that President Biden and Vice President Harris defeat Donald Trump in November,” the report said.

Biden is trying to salvage his faltering reelection in a variety of ways. He’s making impromptu appearances with campaign staff, holding private meetings with top lawmakers, traveling all weekend and giving a televised interview.

But he faced serious indications that support for him on Capitol Hill and among other allies was rapidly waning.

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Arizona) said he supports Biden as long as he is a candidate, but that this is “an opportunity to look elsewhere” and that Biden “has to take responsibility to keep that seat — and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.”

Wealthy donor Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix, also called on Biden to withdraw.