Newsom’s Opening Statement
Gov. Gavin Newsom made it clear during his Thursday evening debate with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Fox News that he is not running for president in 2024. Instead, he emphasized his support for President Biden and his commitment to truthfully compare and contrast DeSantis’ record with that of California.
Newsom’s Role as Biden Surrogate
While initially proposing the debate over a year ago, Newsom has since taken on a larger role as a surrogate for the Biden campaign. This bicoastal debate was an opportunity for him to test out Biden’s talking points against a Republican opponent. Newsom’s efforts to support Biden, including international diplomacy trips and attending the Republican presidential debate, have pleased the Biden campaign.
DeSantis’ Reaction
DeSantis, positioning himself as an alternative to former President Trump in the 2024 presidential election, seemed content to debate a Biden surrogate rather than a fellow Republican. However, he criticized Newsom for being closely aligned with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, describing California as a representation of the “Biden-Harris agenda on steroids.”
Verbal Sparring
During the debate, Newsom defended Biden and Harris against DeSantis’ attacks. He even corrected DeSantis’ pronunciation of Vice President Harris’ name. Both governors gave predictable answers when asked to grade President Biden, with Newsom giving him an “A” and DeSantis reporting a “fail.” When discussing Biden’s age, DeSantis suggested that Newsom secretly agrees with his concerns, calling it a “shadow campaign.”
Newsom’s Final Stand
As the debate concluded, Newsom sent an email blast from the Biden campaign, urging supporters to donate $25 to the president’s reelection efforts.
Disclaimer: This article has been rewritten and does not contain original content from the source.