According to four sources with direct knowledge of the situation, some of President Joe Biden’s political advisors are beginning to consider California Governor Gavin Newsom as a bother.
Newsom’s intention to engage in a television debate with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis carries more risk than potential reward, according to these individuals, even though Biden’s camp no longer views the California governor as a would-be presidential challenger and some in the president’s orbit praise him for serving as a top campaign surrogate.
That upset both the Biden campaign and the supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris.
When most Democrats say they’d prefer a different candidate at the head of the ticket, some Biden advisers have privately warned that the upcoming debate, which would be hosted by Fox News personality Sean Hannity, could lead people to believe that Newsom is running a shadow 2024 campaign. DeSantis, who White House advisors initially believed posed a greater threat to Biden’s chances of winning re-election than the GOP front-runner, former President Donald Trump, is also said to benefit from it, according to their argument. (Some have argued that there is no harm in individuals debating and that it might even be beneficial.)
The attempt by Newsom to establish himself as the leading Democratic candidate for president in 2028 at the expense of the vice president infuriates Harris’ supporters in particular.
One Harris advisor from the outside said, “It’s disrespectful.” “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are running. The Democratic slate is as follows.
The two groups have been arguing about potential regulations ever before DeSantis welcomed Newsom’s standing challenge earlier this month, so it’s unclear at this point if the argument will really proceed. But the possibility of a runoff between the two governors has brought to light the extent to which Biden’s objectives are not always obvious and can differ from Harris’ interests.
A Democratic insider familiar with the arrangements claims that Newsom will represent Biden’s campaign prominently during the second Republican presidential primary debate in Simi Valley, California, in September.
While some Biden advisers are miffed by Newsom’s action, others see potential advantages in a high-profile Democrat taking on a significant Republican candidate and defending the president’s record and program.
He’s acting like a proxy, which is fitting. One Biden advisor praised Newsom for taking on DeSantis along with sharing a donor list with the president’s reelection campaign, adding that it would not be suitable for the president or the vice president.
He said, “We’re in close contact with him.” We want surrogates to perform actions like this.
A text message requesting comment on what he had learned about DeSantis from the Republican primary debate on Wednesday and if he believed the two candidates would ultimately debate received no response from Newsom.
A representative for Biden’s re-election campaign, Kevin Munoz, stated that the campaign supports the debate.
In a text message, Munoz referred to Governor Newsom as “a strong partner & surrogate to the Biden-Harris campaign.” “Whether it’s publicity or funding, we closely coordinate our campaigns. We agreed to the argument when he proposed it to us.
Munoz opted not to disclose the precise timing or source of that recommendation.
The White House has already had to consider whether Biden and Harris will suffer as a result of Newsom’s attempts to advance himself.
In the previous year, Biden’s advisors closely monitored Newsom’s involvement in national politics because of worry that he would be setting himself up for a 2024 run. According to a person with knowledge of the conversation, he told Ron Klain, the then-White House Chief of Staff, that he was “not interested” in running in 2024.
Some of Newsom’s forays into the national spotlight were regarded as boosting the California governor at the expense of fueling concerns about the president, with many Democrats seeking an alternative to Biden, who reached 80 in November.
But since Biden declared his reelection bid in April, Newsom has emerged as a key surrogate, and the majority of the president’s advisors have embraced his assistance. According to those familiar with the discussions, one group of Biden’s aides is okay with a hypothetical Newsom-DeSantis fight because they believe the president and the party could benefit politically if DeSantis fails.
On the other hand, a great performance by DeSantis might help him and hurt Democratic claims. Earlier this summer, as Harris sharply challenged a state requirement that schools teach about the “benefits” of slavery, the governor of Florida traded jabs with her.
She turned down DeSantis’ request to speak with him directly about the matter last month, and he then agreed to confront Newsom. Although the challenge had been made much earlier, Harris’ arm’s length back and forth with DeSantis cast a cloud over Newsom’s choice to proceed.
DeSantis is attempting to create traction in his uphill battle to defeat Trump for the 2024 GOP nomination while the two governors argue over the format and timing of a debate that may take place this autumn or possibly in November.
DeSantis and Newsom have already argued over a number of topics, including immigration policy, crime, Covid, abortion rights, and education. In Florida, Newsom has run advertisements focusing on DeSantis’ policies.
The potential debate’s message regarding Harris and the early bidding for the party’s candidacy in 2028 alarmed one Biden adviser.
The Biden adviser noted that it might appear that he tried to protect her because she was unable to defend herself or that he was acting greedy for attention or a chance to engage in combat. And the Vice President had just defeated DeSantis and declared victory at the moment. I believe Gavin offered DeSantis a second chance.