So is Gavin Newsom’s growth for president – or what it was – actually over?
Over the weekend, Politico columnist Jonathan Martin reported that on election evening, he heard Newsom personally inform President Joe Biden, who referred to as to congratulate the governor on his re-election, that he wouldn’t run for president even when Biden left.
“I completely agree; put me within the coach, ”Martin advised Newsom Biden. “We’ll have your again.”
Newsom was basically repeating what he stated he had stated to others within the White Home earlier — and, frankly, what he typically stated in public, as soon as saying he had “zero” curiosity in organizing a presidential marketing campaign in 2024.
Newsom advised Martin, who spent election evening with the governor on the outdated governor’s mansion in downtown Sacramento whereas watching the election outcomes, that he was eager to be on the marketing campaign path for Biden or another Democratic candidate in 2024, particularly in purple states like Florida. or Texas.
“I am prepared to take the danger, I am prepared to go away, and I let you know with confidence that I am wanting ahead to popping out extra with none grand ambition aside from to push again this narrative and attempt to reformulate this debate. and return to resentment to freedom,” Newsom stated.
Political media hypothesis that Newsom is laying the groundwork for a presidential marketing campaign has flared as a result of he has largely prevented this yr’s re-election marketing campaign and devoted a lot of his time to distant rhetorical duels with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. each have been flagged as potential candidates for the White Home in 2024.
His feud with DeSantis and Abbott gained nationwide media consideration, and hypothesis intensified when, in an interview, Newsom appeared to say that Biden, who turned 80 this month, was out of contact with present political actuality.
Newsom insisted he was merely making an attempt to gentle a hearth beneath his Democratic Get together to turn out to be extra confrontational with Republicans, however there have been studies that Newsom’s campaign-like maneuvers irritated Biden’s political advisers.
Newsom advised Martin that he assured the White Home that he wouldn’t marketing campaign for the presidency, after which delivered the message personally to Biden on election evening.
So what’s left for Newsom, who has spent almost half his life patiently climbing the political ladder one rung at a time?
He insists he intends to serve his second and remaining time period in full as governor, which seems to rule out a run for Dianna Feinstein’s Senate seat in 2024 if she resigns, as many count on.
Maybe Newsom merely intends to spend one other 4 years as governor after which return to non-public life. He did not shut the door on operating for president in 2028, however he would have to take action as a person, with no tenure bullhorn, and such a bid would rely upon who occupies the White Home on the time.
If Newsom lingers one other 4 years, his finest wager is to deal with his tainted relationship with California’s political media, which he has tainted by selling himself within the nationwide media.
One instance: on election evening, he made solely a quick assertion through which he acknowledged his re-election, dismissed reporters’ questions, after which spent the remainder of the night with nationwide political commentator Martin “to show his disinterest in nationwide politics.” – author Alexei Koseff wrote paradoxically on Twitter.
Newsom ought to keep in mind that the ultimate phrase on his gubernatorial legacy will likely be with the Californian journalists, whom he has grossly ignored.
Dan Walters is a columnist for CalMatters.
