COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine answered questions from reporters on Tuesday for the first time since President Joe Biden decided to end his re-election campaign on Sunday.
“We all have seen what we have seen on TV,” DeWine said. “I’m not sure I know any more than anyone else does.”
DeWine said that a few weeks ago, he and his family had a “brief” conversation with Biden, lasting for about 10 minutes.
“He seemed fine,” DeWine said. “But that was brief.”
When Biden first announced that he would end his re-election campaign, DeWine posted on X, that he wishes Biden “all the best as he serves out the remainder of his term and in the years ahead.” On Tuesday, DeWine said he is still “not calling on him to resign.”
Biden stepping down now, despite a round of primary elections across the county and in Ohio, means the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee will be chosen by delegates at the Democratic National Convention. The Ohio Democratic Delegation voted Monday night to pledge all votes to Vice President Kamala Harris, who Biden also endorsed.
Thanks to a special session, the DNC now has until Sept. 1 to ensure the Democrats have a presidential candidate on Ohio’s Ballot.
But DeWine said no matter who the Democrat is running against former President Donald Trump, he is not worried about Trump winning the state.
“There is no indication that he is not going to carry Ohio,” DeWine said. “I do not consider Ohio a battleground for the presidency; where I do see a battle ground is the United States Senate.”
DeWine said the U.S. Senate race in Ohio, which could ultimately decide the balance of power in that chamber, is where he is putting his focus.
NBC4 asked DeWine if he worries that the change at the top of the ticket will impact that race, he said he cannot say either way right now.
“The one thing we’ve learned about this political campaign is there is a lot we don’t know, and this continues to have twists and turns, and we’ve never had a presidential campaign in the history of the county like this,” DeWine said. “We’ve got a long way to go before the election.
