Whitmer floated as Biden's replacement after debate performance

• It also boosts her name recognition with out-of-state voters and is an indicator of her staying power beyond this election cycle, her supporters argue.

Driving the news: Concerns over whether Biden can do the job for four more years ramped up Thursday following the first presidential debate, where his "awful" performance left Democrats "in a state of shock," Axios' Andrew Solender reported.

Reality check: A Biden adviser told CNN on Friday that not only would the president not drop out, but he also intends to participate in a second debate this fall.

State of play: Whitmer's stardom has grown in the national Democratic Party since she helped Michigan flip the Legislature, which scored the first Democratic trifecta in a generation.

• The term-limited governor hasn't ruled out a future presidential run, but has firmly supported Biden's re-election campaign as its co-chair.

Between the lines: Part of her appeal lies in her experience working across the aisle while championing Democratic causes like gun safety measures, abortion access and civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ residents.

• The governor launched a national political group last year in an effort to boost her public profile.

• She also wrote a book — a tradition for presidential hopefuls — titled "True Gretch," releasing July 9.

The other side: Locally, she's been vilified by opponents on the election trail and Republican rivals in the state Legislature.

• "If pathological liar Joe Biden fails tonight this is the next pathological liar they'll replace him with," Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon said of Whitmer on social media.

Yes, but: Michigan swing voters in an Axios focus group had mostly positive things to say about Whitmer when asked last summer about a potential presidential bid — even those who opposed her.

• A January Detroit News poll of 600 likely Michigan voters found Whitmer outperforming Biden in matchups against former President Trump.