'Biden struggled, but he’s an honest person.' How Ohio Democrats are reacting to debate

President Joe Biden's meandering debate performance did little to assure Americans he wasn't too old for a second term. And Ohio Democrats took notice.

Former Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley took to X to suggest alternative Democratic presidential candidates: "Governors Whitmer, Shapiro, Beshear and Polis, your country needs you." Biden should step down to make way for a leader who can offer "generational change," Cranley, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2022, told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Biden wasn't expected to win Ohio, a state that former President Donald Trump has won twice by eight percentage points. But Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown is in the race of his political career against Republican Bernie Moreno so a strong top of the ticket only helps the incumbent senator.

Brown told reporters in Cleveland that he isn't interested in replacing Biden on the presidential ticket or giving him advice. "I am focused on my job. I love this job. I love fighting for Ohioans. I'm not interested in governor or president or anything else," reported WEWS' John Kosich.

Republicans have repeatedly harped on Biden's age, currently 81 years old to Trump's 78. But during Thursday's debate, Biden trailed off during a question about the economy and offered meandering answers. At one point, Trump said: "I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don't think he knows what he said either."

More: The 5 weirdest moments from the grim first Biden-Trump debate

The Ohio Democratic Party did not respond to a request for comment on Biden's debate performance. Several Ohio Democrats acknowledged Biden's struggles Thursday but said they are sticking with their candidate.

"Biden struggled, but he’s an honest person who cares deeply about the country and Trump, on the other hand, is a con man and only cares about himself," said U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Mount Washington. "I’m not sure yet what happens next, but I’m clear about my job, which is to serve the 700,000 people we represent."

Current Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval disagreed with his predecessor Cranley's assessment of Biden, emphasizing the president's support for projects like the Brent Spence Bridge.

"President Biden is our nominee, and I will continue to do everything I can to return him to the White House ? for the good of our nation and for the good of Cincinnati," Pureval said.

Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Columbus, said candidates have good and bad debate performances, but Thursday's event won't impact the final results.

"At the end of the day, I think most people’s minds are made up about this election," Russo said.

“One evening doesn’t outweigh three and a half years of progress, trusted leadership and character," U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown, D-Cleveland, said in a statement to the Akron Beacon Journal. "President Biden is better than Trump any day of the week, as confirmed again last night by Trump’s repeated lies. President Biden is on the right side of the issues with the American people and is running to make their lives better. I remain firmly in support of the president.”

Replacing Biden as the Democratic nominee would be complicated, even if Democrats were on board. And they have a short timeline to do anything with the Democratic National Convention looming in August.

Democratic delegates pledged to vote for Biden must do so, said state Sen. Bill DeMora, D-Columbus, urging his party to not overreact to one debate. "Democrats like to make mountains out of molehills sometimes."

In the end, Democrats won't swap out their presidential pick, Russo said. "I deal in realities."

While some Ohio Republicans bashed Biden online, GOP Gov. Mike DeWine offered a one-word review of the presidential debate: "Interesting." Lt. Gov. Jon Husted declined to weigh in.

Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Should President Joe Biden drop out? Ohio Democrats respond to debate