LateNighter has learned that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer will make her Late Show With Stephen Colbert debut next Wednesday, July 10.
With her name being whispered as a replacement Democratic presidential nominee were President Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race, it’s interesting timing for Whitmer to, um, elect to appear on a late-night show. Especially one as focused on presidential politics as Colbert’s.
Whitmer’s double-digit 2022 re-election win in the key battleground state of Michigan is said to have catapulted her to the top of donor preference lists in the wake of Biden’s poor debate performance.
Although the Governor has said in the past that she’d consider a future presidential run, in a meeting with Democratic Party leaders last week, she reportedly disavowed an online movement to “Draft Gretch.”
Whitmer and several other potential candidates in waiting—including fellow governors Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and Josh Shapiro (D-PA)—find themselves in a delicate dance. With none wanting to appear disloyal to Biden, all have expressed public support of the president even as, behind the scenes, their staff and supporters work to keep their names in the conversation should Biden choose to withdraw.
And what better way to keep yourself in the conversation than with a well-timed appearance on the top-rated 11:35 p.m. late-night show?
Although Whitmer has previously guested on Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, next Wednesday’s Late Show appearance will be her first visit with Colbert.
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It’s the book stupid not the presidency this time, next time.