CNN
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A long list of governors gathered in Washington this week for their annual winter meeting that will gather at the White House on Friday, giving President Joe Biden a chance to get a temperature on how he is perceived across the country ahead of a potential bid in 2024.
Biden’s meetings with the bipartisan group of governors come after his recent State of the Union address, where he delivered an upbeat perception of the country despite stiff opposition from some Republicans. harmony in the room. His speech – which focused primarily on core domestic issues and sharply targeted GOP proposals – was seen by many as a test run for his potential re-election announcement. .
Since his prime-time remarks Tuesday in the House of Representatives, Biden has implemented his policies on the road — most recently a trip to Tampa, Florida, to contrast his approach to social safety net policies with the GOP’s efforts to cut Medicare and Social Security.
The White House said Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will use Friday’s East Room meeting with the governors to hear “live” about the impact of the Biden-Harris Administration’s economic agenda on states across the country.” States have received large amounts of federal funding to implement some of the major Biden policies enacted since the president took office.
“They will discuss opportunities for states to continue to invest in infrastructure, manufacturing, workforce development, and cost reduction for working families, among others,” the White House said. other major priorities”.
On Saturday, Biden, Harris and their spouses will also attend a black-tie dinner at the White House with the governors.
A White House official told CNN that “all 55 governors from every state and territory have been invited to the National Governors Association Winter Meeting, White House business meeting and dinner.” for governors at the White House on Saturday.”
“We’re expecting bipartisan governors to attend, from Alaska to Wyoming and from Utah to Guam,” the official added.
Ahead of in-person meetings, the White House highlighted a recent statement by the National Governors Association calling on Congress to “increase or suspend the debt limit as soon as possible.” Hardline Republicans have argued that raising the debt ceiling is tied to spending cuts, and the NGA statement is in line with Biden’s repeated calls to Congress to achieve consensus on this issue.
“The failure of the Treasury Department to meet its federal obligations creates significant uncertainty and risk for U.S. citizens, government services, and global financial markets,” the statement said. The NGA, representing all 55 governors of the nation, continued.
US hits debt ceiling in January, forcing the federal government to take special measures to keep the government paying its bills. The federal government faces a potentially catastrophic default later this summer if Congress can’t reach an agreement to raise the debt ceiling.
Last yeara bipartisan group of governors used their time in Washington to bend Biden’s ear about easing Covid-19 restrictions.
And this year, as polls show Americans want a new Democrat to be the 2024 presidential nominee, nearly a dozen Democratic governors are using their Washington forums to expressed support for Biden’s second term.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy told reporters on Thursday that Biden’s State of the Union speech and the reaction of Republicans – from several times cursing in the room of Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ react – shows a clear contrast between the parties.
“Amidst the crazy behavior of the right-wing group that criticized him, (and) the remarks… in fact, his likeness as a statesman, and then the replies, it was all about culture war? This guy is running and he has to be re-elected and we all support him,” Murphy, who leads the Democratic Governors Association, said along with 10 other Democratic governors.
Their vocal support for Biden according to a recent Washington Post-ABC News report poll found that 6 out of 10 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents said they would like the party to nominate someone other than Biden.
Biden recently repeat in a PBS NewsHour interview this week that he plans to run for re-election, but has yet to make that decision.
