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Democratic governors are worried that years of heated political rhetoric have left their voters exhausted ahead of this year’s presidential contest, and that a drawn-out nominating fight risks exacerbating divides within a party that has to be united as it takes on President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE.

In interviews on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the National Governors Association this weekend in Washington, Democrats said they were keeping close tabs on the race for the White House. 

Their anxiety is rising in recent days, after the Senate voted to acquit Trump and after a disastrous Iowa caucus process marred by technical errors.

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“There’s no way to sugarcoat it, we didn’t have our best week,” said New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D), who heads the Democratic Governors Association. “We underestimate this president at our peril. We underestimate the fight on our hands at our peril.”

As former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE’s front-runner status comes under sustained assault from both the left and moderates after a poor showing in Iowa, many governors who had assumed Biden would lead the ticket are making other plans. 

Eight governors met Saturday morning with former New York City Mayor Michael BloombergMichael BloombergEngel scrambles to fend off primary challenge from left It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process Liberals embrace super PACs they once shunned MORE, a longtime donor to Democratic causes whose unprecedented spending on television advertisements has drawn their attention. 

One Democratic lobbyist in touch with several of the governors said that as Biden’s fortunes have faded, many top Democrats had become “Bloomberg-curious.”

“This is a wild card,” Murphy said. “We have no idea how to assess” his spending.

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The new interest in Bloomberg also mirrors a broader concern that the Democratic debate has grown more negative as the stakes have risen — at the expense of focusing on Trump.

“Maybe the greatest strength of our country and the Democratic Party is our diversity, and not just racial diversity, diversity of thought and diversity of ideas,” said Montana Gov. Steve BullockSteve BullockKoch-backed group launches ad campaign to support four vulnerable GOP senators Overnight Energy: US Park Police say ‘tear gas’ statements were ‘mistake’ | Trump to reopen area off New England coast for fishing | Vulnerable Republicans embrace green issues Vulnerable Republicans embrace green issues in battle to save seats MORE (D), who ended his presidential campaign in December. 

“I don’t think ‘Medicare for All’ is the best policy or the best political path. But we really ought to be focusing on that Trump actually goes over to Davos and talks about cutting Medicare, or that he is still in court trying to take away coverage from pre-existing conditions. So the diversity we have within the party, we can celebrate that as long as we recognize that at the end of the day we have to beat Donald Trump.”

Several governors said they believed the presidential primary would drag on for months, and keeping the peace would help unite the party once it finally chooses a nominee.

“I know there’s a lot of gnashing of teeth going on, but the fact is, I think, the more the merrier,” said Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D), who won a 10-way primary in 2018 before ousting Republican Scott Walker. “Any candidate, I don’t care who they are, they have to understand that the people that vote in the primary are significantly different from who votes in the general, and hopefully no one candidate digs themself a hole so deep that they can’t crawl out of it in a general.”

Perhaps most concerning to the Democrats who gathered in Washington over the weekend were early signs that the momentum that fueled their party’s wins in the 2018 midterm elections have ebbed. 

In recent weeks, the party lost big in what looked like a promising special election in Texas, turnout for the Iowa caucuses fell well short of the record set in 2008, and polls have shown Republican enthusiasm skyrocketing.

“I get concerned right now when you look at data points like that and you feel that perhaps the other side is more enthused,” Murphy said. “We underestimate right now the passion and the energy and the enthusiasm of the folks who support the president.”

But several governors said they remained optimistic, and in some cases grateful for a broader field of candidates. Evers said he is happy his constituents will likely cast a meaningful ballot when Wisconsin votes on April 7.

“Whoever the nominee is will have a stark contrast with President Trump,” said Colorado Gov. Jared PolisJared Schutz PolisState leaders urge protesters to get tested for coronavirus amid fears of new outbreaks The Hill’s Morning Report – Protesters’ defiance met with calls to listen Overnight Health Care: White House shifts focus from coronavirus | House Democrats seek information on coronavirus vaccine contracts | Governors detail frustrations with Trump over COVID-19 supplies MORE (D). “We are ready with a vision for America’s future that works for everybody, and we’re excited to move forward rather than be caught up in this mean-hearted divisive rhetoric and regressive policies.”

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