Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D) said he’s receptive to replacing Joe Biden as the Democrats’ presidential nominee, admitting the party is poised to lose against Republican candidate Donald Trump.
When asked by a reporter at the National Governors Association summer on Friday whether the Democrat Party can win against Trump with Biden as its nominee, Polis said he fears the party would lose.
“Well, of course, Democrats can win in November. It’s a very close election. I think it’s also fair and objective to say, yes, that, President Biden is behind, not by a lot, but he is behind the elections today, we would likely lose,” Polis responded.
“I think this means that we need to change something as a strategy to protect freedom, protect our democracy,” the governor continued. “We need to look at what that strategy is. Does it mean changing the campaign strategy, campaign message, the candidate? All of these things are being discussed.”
Polis also said he wants to protect the “global world order.”
“I want to make sure that we put our very best foot forward to protect our democracy going forward, which includes, of course, support for NATO, and global world order, the policies and the progress we’ve achieved the last four years,” he said.
“So, again, when you’re behind, it doesn’t mean you give up. It means you figure out what you need to change to come back and get ahead,” he added.
Other Colorado Democrats have directly called for Biden to step down.
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) became the first Senate Democrat to publicly warn that Biden can’t defeat Trump.
“Donald Trump is on track, I think, to win this election and maybe win it by a landslide and take with him the Senate and the House,” Bennet said Tuesday. “So for me, this isn’t a question about polling, it’s not a question of politics. It’s a moral question about the future of our country, and I think it’s critically important for us to come to grips with what we face if, together, we put this country on the path of electing Donald Trump again.”
Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D) in a statement Friday also called for Biden to “pass the torch.”
“Joe Biden saved our country once, and I’m joining the growing number of people in my district and across the country to ask him to do it again. Please pass the torch to one of our many capable Democratic leaders so we have the best chance to defeat Donald Trump, who is the greatest threat to the foundation of this country that we have ever faced.”
But the Biden campaign has remained defiant, stating that Biden will remain in the race — even without the help of key donors.