(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is responding to questions about a hot mic comment this week where he said of the presidential race, “I don’t like where we are.”
Every appearance Pritzker has in front of the media this week, he’s been peppered with questions about President Joe Biden’s physical and mental fitness to serve. Biden’s fitness to serve as president has been the major national political story since his poor debate performance late last month. Some are looking to a Biden news conference later in the day Thursday as a make or break moment.
On a hot mic NBC Chicago captured Wednesday, Pritzker is overheard talking with someone after a news event.
“I mean, we’re just gonna keep fighting, I don’t know what to say, you know, I gotta, gotta do what we have to do,” Pritzker said. “I don’t like where we are, but.”
Thursday at an unrelated event in the Metro East St. Louis area, he clarified what he meant.
“Well, all I was referring to is I don’t like the polls, right,” Pritzker told reporters. “Joe Biden is behind a couple of points nationally. I think we should be doing a lot better.”
Pritzker has been steadfast in his support for Biden and expects Biden’s delegates to nominate the incumbent.
“These are delegates who are elected to support Joe Biden, that is what they do at the convention unless he steps aside, which he said he’s not going to do,” Pritzker said.
Democrats meet for their national convention in Chicago beginning Aug. 19.
State Rep. John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, is a delegate for Donald Trump to the Republican National Convention next week. He said there’s excitement in the GOP.
“Especially right now with the Democrats being in complete chaos with whether President Biden is going to be their nominee now or if it’s going to be somebody else,” Cabello told The Center Square.
Pritzker has long denied he has aspirations to run for president.
