WASHINGTON (WCBS 880/AP) -- Gov. Kathy Hochul and other Democratic governors will meet Wednesday evening with President Joe Biden, as the president attempts to solidify support among his party's top leaders after his performance in last week’s debate with Donald Trump was widely seen as disastrous and a threat to his reelection bid.
The meeting comes amid a report Wednesday from the New York Times that Biden is considering whether to drop out of the race—a report the White House called "absolutely false."
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Tuesday that Biden would host the White House meeting with some Democratic governors. While many were expected to attend virtually, Hochul was among those attending in person, according to Crain's New York Business. Her public schedule also shows her in Washington on Wednesday.
Hochul has stood by the president, writing on her personal X account immediately after the debate: "Let’s be clear, Donald Trump is the greatest threat to the American people. He is a convicted felon who wants to ban abortion nationwide. Those are the stakes this November." Hochul and Biden took part in a Pride event together in Greenwich Village hours later last Friday.
Democratic governors previously held their own call and asked Biden to speak with them, three people with knowledge of the president's schedule told the Associated Press.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, said that on the previous call, governors spoke to “what was obviously a poor performance” in the debate with participants “asking questions about, what is the plan?”
Waltz said he expects Wednesday’s meeting to address “some of the same concerns.”
The meeting is part of a blitz of events planned by the White House as Biden's team pushes back on pressure for him to leave the race.
“We really want to turn the page on this,” Jean-Pierre said Tuesday of the intensifying calls for Biden to bow out.
The White House was also holding an all-staff meeting on Wednesday, billed as a morale-booster following the debate, according to the Associated Press.
Additionally, Biden has been holding calls with party leaders in Congress and will sit down for an ABC News interview, with portions to air Friday on "World News Tonight" and the full interview to air Sunday morning on "This Week."
Biden has also planned trips to Wisconsin on Friday and Philadelphia on Sunday. And he'll hold a press conference during the NATO summit in Washington next week.
The discussion with governors and Democratic congressional leaders is the strongest indication yet that Biden is attempting to calm fears among some Democrats, who worry he may not be up to continuing a campaign — much less defeat GOP rival Trump — following his sometimes raspy and halting performance during last week's debate in Atlanta.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.