How would Beshear fare against Trump in presidential race? Here's what a new poll says
Could Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear win an election to become America’s next president?
Beshear’s name has been floated as a possible replacement on the Democratic ticket following President Joe Biden's poor performance against former President Donald Trump in last week's debate.
But Beshear, who has now twice won the governorship in deep Red Kentucky, lacks national name recognition, with 70% of Democrats in a new Reuters/Ipsos poll saying they had not heard of him.
Nevertheless, Beshear polled 36% against Trump’s 40% in a hypothetical matchup.
That’s about on par with how other Democratic governors fared against Trump in the poll, which closed Tuesday.
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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer got the support of 36% of respondents against Trump’s 41%, while Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker pulled the support of 34% of respondents against Trump’s 40%.
The Democratic governors were not far behind the president himself: Biden and Trump each pulled the support 40% of just over 1,000 adults.
Only former first lady Michelle Obama outperformed Trump in the poll. She had the support of half the poll respondents against just 39% for Trump. However, Obama has said she does not plan to run for president.
About a third of the Democrats polled said they thought Biden should not run for re-election after his poor debate performance.
Beshear, Whitmer, Pritzker, and Obama, along with Vice President Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore have all been floated as possible Biden replacements at the top of the Democratic ticket.
Democratic governors plan to meet with Biden on Wednesday to discuss his candidacy, including Beshear, who will be heading to the White House in person, campaign strategist Eric Hyers confirmed.
That meeting comes after Democratic governors held a private conference call Monday to discuss the campaign. Beshear, Pritzker, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy were among those on the call.
Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett called on Biden to step aside this week, the first Democratic lawmaker to do so publicly.
The Biden campaign has firmly rejected calls for Biden not to run again. And Beshear appears to continue to support the Biden candidacy.
Earlier this week, Beshear told reporters he found the suggestion that he run for president “flattering” but that “so as long as (Biden) continues to be in the race, I support him.”
USA Today contributed to this report.
Reach Rebecca Grapevine at [email protected] or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @RebGrapevine.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: New poll tests how Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear would fare against Trump
