LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- After President Joe Biden's debate performance, Gov. Andy Beshear was mentioned on several shortlists as a possible replacement.

The catch, a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday said 70% of Democrat voters in the poll didn't know who he was.

There are some things already in the works that could get Beshear more national recognition.

One, he is the keynote speaker at the Iowa Democratic Party's annual Liberty and Justice Celebration at the end of the month

It was scheduled before the presidential debate, but it could carry more weight now.

At the beginning of this year, Beshear launched a political action committee called "In This Together." It raises money to then help elect more Democrats in swing states and Republican strongholds.

Still, earlier this week Beshear stood by his support for Biden's campaign.

"Well, Joe Biden is our nominee and ultimately that decision on continuing or not falls on him and his family. But I don't think there's anything wrong with asking him to talk to the American people a little bit more about his health or that debate performance," Beshear said on CNN.

Biden called on his Democratic governors to gather this week. Biden reportedly told the governors he plans to get more sleep and won't schedule late night events. 

Beshear attended in person, but did not speak to the press after the event. He did answer questions about the trip while in Louisville on Friday, touring tornado damage in the city's west end.

The governor said the meeting was private, and wouldn't share what others said. He did, however, share what he told the president.

"The truth, and my recommendation was that he have an open conversation with the public about the status of his health," Beshear said.

The speculations about Beshear's name on the shortlists came after last week's debate.

"Now, you probably heard, I had a little debate last week. Can't say it's my best performance, but ever since then there's been a lot of speculation. What's Joe gonna do? Is he gonna stay in the race? Is he gonna drop out? What's he gonna do? Well, here's my answer ... I am running, and (I'm) gonna win again," Biden said during a campaign rally on Friday.

While in Louisville on Friday, the governor addressed the speculation.

"So I think, when you hear my name floated, because people see what we are all doing and they long for a world where we can get past the constant back and forth and just move forward together," Beshear said.

Beshear is also a voting delegate at the upcoming Democratic National Convention in August. It's not clear if he will be one of the selected speakers.

"Joe Biden is the nominee, and the only way that is not the case is if he decides he is not going to pursue the nomination," he said. 

Beshear won the governor's race in Kentucky in 2019, beating incumbent Matt Bevin by just over 5,100 votes. He won reelection in 2023, beating former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron by more than 67,000 votes.

"I really like Beshear," Louisville resident Mike Williams told WDRB on Friday. "He has done a lot of popular things for the state, I think he would be a great addition not only for the rest of the country, but a great representation of Kentucky as well."

But even if it weren't a presidential candidacy, some analysts say if Vice President Kamala Harris replaces Biden, Beshear might be a vice president choice.

Should Biden choose not to continue his campaign, Beshear isn't necessarily closing the door on a possible move up the political ladder.

"The only way I would ever consider anything other than this job, which I love, is if I felt I could help this Commonwealth in special and important ways," he said.

Beshear has said in the past that he will finish his term as governor.

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