April 28, 2020 | 9:34am | Updated April 28, 2020 | 11:07am
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is getting advice from White House hopeful Joe Biden amid the coronavirus pandemic, saying the former vice president is “regularly checking in” with her.
Whitmer, 48, praised Biden for his “counsel and friendship” in the ongoing public health crisis during an interview Monday with Politico.
“We’re cut from a similar cloth – he loves people,” Whitmer told Politico. “He is, you know, regularly checking in with me about what’s going on here in Michigan, what do we need … I have gotten some counsel from him in terms of, you know, just trying to communicate to people what we’re really confronting, the seriousness of it, and the hope that we need to have, but also trying to connect in a way that people really understand.”
Whitmer, who announced Monday she intends to extend Michigan’s stay-at-home restrictions for another 28 days, also thanked Biden for supporting constituents in her state.
“I think the way he’s had Michigan’s back over the years is precisely why he resonates with people here,” the Democrat governor continued. “It’s why I endorsed him before the primary played out here in Michigan and I’m grateful for the friendship.”
Asked about the possibility of being considered as Biden’s running mate, Whitmer said she had yet to provide any documentation to the former vice president’s campaign.
“Everything that I’m doing right now is focusing on helping the people of my state through his crisis and all the energy that I have is going into that effort,” she said.
Pressed further on a possible female vice presidential candidate, Whitmer said she would happily support a “Biden-whomever” ticket before mentioning a slew of possibilities, including Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar.
“There’s a huge class of highly competent women leaders across this country that would, I think, be fantastic,” Whitmer told Politico, later shooting down speculation that she’s being eyed to join Biden’s ticket.
“I’m not running for anything,” Whitmer said. “I just know that you don’t run for that — that is a selection of the top of the ticket and everyone else should just be busy doing their jobs.”
With Post Wires
