Healey breaks silence on Biden, urging him to 'carefully evaluate' if he can defeat Trump

Gov. Maura Healey is urging President Biden to "listen to the American people and carefully evaluate whether he remains our best hope to defeat Donald Trump."

The Democrat is a campaign surrogate for Biden and had thus far been publicly restrained in her comments about the president in the wake of his poor debate performance last week.

Her comments on Friday come two days after a White House meeting with Democratic governors, set to ease the state executives' concerns about Biden's ability to continue in the campaign following the June 27 debate. She told reporters the following day the event was "tough to watch" and did not respond directly when asked if she was still supporting the president.

The New York Times reported Thursday that earlier in the week, Healey told other governors the president’s political position was “irretrievable.”

In the Friday statement, released in response to reporters' inquiries, Healey said Biden "saved our democracy in 2020 and has done an outstanding job over the last four years. I am deeply grateful for his leadership. And I know he agrees this is the most important election of our lifetimes."

She said it's on the president to evaluate his next move: "The best way forward right now is a decision for the President to make." She said whatever he decides, "I am committed to doing everything in my power to defeat Donald Trump.”

Healey is the latest Bay State political leader to speak out about Biden's prospects. Congressman Seth Moulton told WBUR Thursday that he does not have confidence Biden can beat former President Trump.

Biden has a number of high-stakes public appearances Friday and over the weekend that critics and supporters alike will be watching closely. In a social media post from the president's camp Friday afternoon, Biden stood firm: "I'm the nominee of the Democratic party. I'm staying in the race."