Here's what Democrats being floated to replace Biden have to say

Amid fallout over President Biden's disastrous presidential debate performance on Thursday, some Democrats are calling for the president to be replaced at the top of the ticket come November. Multiple party members have reiterated to DailyMail.com that the decision to step aside rests solely with the president, and Democrats cannot push him out.

More than a handful of Democratic officials are being floated as potential replacements should the 81-year-old Commander-in-Chief announce he won't seek reelection after all. Among the names that have surfaced in the days since the debate are Vice President Kamala Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Senator Raphael Warnock. But at this point, all of the names being suggested as a potential replacements as Democratic presidential nominee are pushing back and closing ranks around the president. Here's what they have to say about the prospect of Biden being replaced.

Vice President Kamala Harris. Vice President Kamala Harris was one of the first Democrats to defend President Biden following the debate on Thursday. She appeared on CNN right after the debate where she admitted the president had a rough start but claimed he had a better finish. 'Yes, there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish,' she told anchor Anderson Cooper . 'And what became very clear through the course of the night is that Joe Biden is fighting on behalf of the American people.' Harris has appeared for multiple interviews where she has defended Biden since the debate, saying he is the one candidate who was on the debate stage who has the endorsement of his vice president. After the debate Harris hit the campaign trail in Nevada to rally support for Biden.

Governor Gavin Newsom. Fellow Californian Governor Gavin Newsom has also been suggested as a potential replacement for Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee. Newsom has been one of Biden's fiercest supporters and appeared in the 'spin room' in Atlanta directly after the debate to push back on concerns over the president's fitness to serve. When asked about replacing Biden, Newsom forcefully rejected it. 'I would never turn my back on President Biden. Never ever turn my back on President Biden, and I don't know a Democrat in my party who would do so,' Newsom said. 'We're going to win this election. Newsom said he has spent a lot of time with Biden and knows what he's capable of. 'I have no trepidations,' he said.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is another state leader whose name has been thrown out as a Biden replacement and one who hails from a battleground state. On Monday, the governor rejected a report that she suggested Biden could no longer win Michigan following the debate after Politico reported Whitmer called a senior Biden campaign official to disavow a 'draft Gretch' movement and warned Michigan was not winnable for the president. Whitmer released a statement saying she is proud to support Biden as the nominee and behind him 100 percent. 'Not only do I believe Joe can win Michigan, I know he can because he’s got the receipts,' she said. The governor also posted a video Monday afternoon where she praised Biden for working to make people's lives better. It urged people to campaign and vote for the president. 'Anyone who claims I would say that we can’t win Michigan is full of [expletive]. Let’s go,' she wrote in her post.

Governor Josh Shapiro. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's name often comes up as a Democrat with a bright political future and potential sights on the White House. The battleground state governor was one of the first Democratic leaders to push back on replacing Biden following his stumbling debate performance. 'Joe Biden had a bad debate night, but Donald Trump was a bad president,' Shapiro said in a CNN interview the morning after the debate. However, he also said he would be the first to admit the debate was not a good look. Shapiro also argued CNN should have done a better job of calling out Trump's lies. The Pennsylvania governor refused to respond in the interview over whether he could replace Biden on the ticket. He said he would not 'engage in that hypothetical,' but he's all in. Shapiro said Democrats need to stop worrying and start working.

Governor Andy Beshear. Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat who won reelection in ruby red Kentucky last year, was asked about replacing Biden on Monday and whether he would be willing to step in if he had to. 'Only the president can determine his future as a candidate. He is the candidate and as long as he is, I'm supporting him,' Beshear told the crowd of reporters. He called the mention of his name flattering but said it's a reflection of all the good things going on in his state. When asked, Beshear did admit Biden's debate performance on Thursday was not good. 'It was a very bad night for the president, but he is still the candidate. Only he could make decisions about his future candidacy,' he told reporters.

Governor JB Pritzker. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's name has surfaced as a Biden replacement as well, but the governor and billionaire released a statement after the debate slamming Donald Trump while touting the president. 'Tonight, voters were presented with a clear choice – a president working hard every day to improve the lives of all Americans or a convicted felon, a selfish blowhard looking out only for himself,' it read. 'The contrast between these two men was clear before the debate – it is even clearer now,' it continued. Pritzker accused the former GOP president of lying and misleading the American people but said voters would not be fooled. 'Americans rejected Donald Trump’s extreme MAGA agenda in 2020 and they’ll do it again in November,' he said.

Pete Buttigieg. Transportation Secretary and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg's name has also been mentioned by some hopeful Democrats looking for a younger generation of leaders. The 42-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana gained national attention for running in the 2020 primary before joining the Biden administration. Buttigieg took to X on Monday to retweet a post from the president's account which included Biden's latest campaign ad featuring video of Biden campaigning in Raleigh, North Carolina the day after the debate.

Senator Raphael Warnock. Some voters in the battleground state of Georgia suggested to DailyMail.com that their Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock would be a good replacement for Biden having won the battleground state. But Warnock was on the ground in Atlanta defending Biden following the debate on Thursday. 'I would be concerned if the president didn't have a record to run on,' Warnock told reporters. 'But the fact of the matter is, this is a man who has passed historic legislation.' Warnock doubled down Sunday on 'Meet the Press' where he said bad debates happen. During the interview, he was asked about the possibility of Biden stepping aside and paving the way for Harris to run. 'I have great respect for Vice President Harris, whom I spent a great deal of time with, but Joe Biden is the nominee,' he responded. 'I'm going to do everything I can to make sure we elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.'

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