Why Is Biden Sending Gavin Newsom to the GOP Debate?

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Is he preping Newsom to step in?

Biden's GOP debate strategy: Send Newsom​

Joe Biden's re-election campaign is deploying California Gov. Gavin Newsom to the second Republican presidential debate next week in Simi Valley, Calif., Biden campaign advisers tell Axios.
Why it matters: It's the latest example of Biden's increasingly warm relationship with Newsom after earlier tensions between the two — and comes as the California governor continues to build his national profile.
Driving the news: GOP frontrunner Donald Trump isn't likely to attend the GOP debate Wednesday, but Biden's team also is deploying top officials — including campaign manager Julie Chávez Rodríguez — to contrast the president's agenda with what they call "MAGA Republicans' extreme and out of touch views."

• The debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library will be hosted by Fox Business and Univision, so the Democratic National Committee is focusing its messaging on economics and Latino voters.
• Chávez Rodríguez and DNC chair Jaime Harrison will host Latino organizing events including one focused on Latino men, Biden campaign advisers told Axios.
• The DNC also is hiring a plane to fly over Southern California reading "2024 GOP: A Race for the Extreme MAGA Base," according to a Biden adviser.
• Biden re-elect spokesperson Kevin Munoz told Axios: "The campaign response builds off the strong and effective plan from the first debate with a clear north star: Push back on Republicans' lies and highlight their extremism at every turn."

Between the lines: Newsom, whose appearance at the upcoming debate was first reported by The Messenger, has become an enthusiastic booster of Biden's re-election bid, even as the governor has been building a national network of supporters and donors.

• Newsom told The New York Times this month that it was time for Democrats to rally around Biden: "The train has left the station…We're all in. Stop talking. He's not going anywhere. It's time for all of us to get on the train and buck up."
• Newsom's growing profile has annoyed some allies of Vice President Kamala Harris, NBC News reported in August.
• In June, Biden called Newsom "one of the best governors I've ever worked with" and a "buddy," as POLITICO reported of their growing bromance.

The big picture: The debate is the latest instance of the Biden campaign trying to push a contrast between what it's calling "Bidenomics" and "MAGAnomics."

https://www.axios.com/2023/09/22/biden-deploys-newsom-gop-debate-president

 

[hawkjt]

He is the governor of Cali.
The debate is in Cali.
Makes sense.
Certainly it could set up a battle in 28 with Newsome vs kamala.

 

[noleclone2]

VP switch. Biden wins and resigns spring of 25.

 

[hawkdave007]

Biden is going to do very little campaigning over the next 14ish months, and he needs a reliable surrogate. Kamala Harris is not a great surrogate, so in steps Gavin Newsom to the rescue. Gavin is probably holding out hope that Ol' Joe will need to bow out before the convention and Gavin's name will be at or near the top of the list when the Democrat power players all meet in the smoke-filled room.

 

[The Tradition]

Well they both have that sleazy slicked-back hairstyle. No one will know the difference.

 

[sober_teacher]

Newsome very clearly is best-positioned at the moment for a run in ‘28.

 

[EvolutionDenier]

Coked-up Trudeau?!?!

 

[EvolutionDenier]

VP switch. Biden wins and resigns spring of 25.

I like a candidate who lOoKs LiKe Me!

Greased-back hair
Tells people not to do what he's doing
On cocaine

 

[EvolutionDenier]

VP switch. Biden wins and resigns spring of 25.

I like a candidate who lOoKs LiKe Me!

Greased-back hair
Tells people not to do what he's doing
On cocaine

 

[Torg]

Well they both have that sleazy slicked-back hairstyle. No one will know the difference.

It sure beats Trump's orange mop on his head.

 

[EvolutionDenier]

It sure beats Trump's orange mop on his head.

You've charmed me. I'm voting Newsom!

 

[EvolutionDenier]

Torg's over here like, "Sometimes I want order!"

 

[TC Nole OX]

 

[CarolinaHawkeye]

Well they both have that sleazy slicked-back hairstyle. No one will know the difference.

Should have a combover that takes 2 cans of hair spray and 2 helpers to fix the hair every morning.

 

[BustingNarratives]

Because she can’t …

 

[thewop]

VP switch. Biden wins and resigns spring of 25.

Good bet. It's good strategy if the Rs go ahead and run Trump, which it looks like they will.

If another GOP frontrunner emerges, Biden shouldn't run, and Newsome is a suitable replacement (just from a Dem strategy perspective).

 

[TC Nole OX]

Newsom pans GOP debate: 'More disappointing than I was expecting'

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

I really hope he's not going to be the candidate for the Dems in the future because I feel like he'll lose.

Get a Dem who knows how to win a primary and general election in a swing state, not one who knows how to win a primary in one of the most liberal states in the country.

I would prefer Gretchen Whitmer. She deserves a bigger profile.

 

[MitchLL]

The Dems REALLY need to find a way to encourage Harris to step away.
I don't think she really helps much in terms of the Black vote and she has zero chance in 2028.
I like what others have suggested with Klobuchar or Whitmer.

 

[Gimmered]

Newsome very clearly is best-positioned at the moment for a run in ‘28.

Welcome back President Trump.

 

[sober_teacher]

Welcome back President Trump.

?

 

[Ree4]

I never figured out what people saw with Klobuchar, seemed like another run of the mill moderate democrat to me.

 

[Rifler]

I never figured out what people saw with Klobuchar, seemed like another run of the mill moderate democrat to me.

I think it was her ability to eat a salad with a comb...

 

[Gimmered]

?

Independents elect the President, not the left or the right. Bring on Newsom and we'll have a Democrat controlled House and Senate and Trump in the White House.

 

[MitchLL]

I never figured out what people saw with Klobuchar, seemed like another run of the mill moderate democrat to me.

She seems less controversial than many and has a history in Minnesota of being tough on criminal prosecution as an attorney.

She checks a lot of the boxes Dem candidates desire to be.
Certainly less controversial than Harris.

 

[sober_teacher]

She seems less controversial than many and has a history in Minnesota of being tough on criminal prosecution as an attorney.

She checks a lot of the boxes Dem candidates desire to be.
Certainly less controversial than Harris.

Her problem in ‘20 was that she had very little name recognition outside the Midwest.

Independents elect the President, not the left or the right. Bring on Newsom and we'll have a Democrat controlled House and Senate and Trump in the White House.

I can’t envision a scenario where Trump could pull that off.

 

[SI_NYC]

Independents elect the President, not the left or the right. Bring on Newsom and we'll have a Democrat controlled House and Senate and Trump in the White House.

Trump is going to prison, bro.

 

[Gimmered]

Her problem in ‘20 was that she had very little name recognition outside the Midwest.



I can’t envision a scenario where Trump could pull that off.

He would certainly need the Democrats do something really stupid, like putting someone as polarizing as Newsom.

 

[TC Nole OX]

He would certainly need the Democrats do something really stupid, like putting someone as polarizing as Newsom.

Newsom is only polarizing if you have a severe case of FoxBrain

 

[Gimmered]

Newsom is only polarizing if you have a severe case of FoxBrain

That's just not true. He is a left leaning version of Desantis.

 

[TC Nole OX]

California looking out for the fast food workers. MAGA will be furious.

 

[billanole]

Torg's over here like, "Sometimes I want order!"

Is there some reason you are the spamage poster today?
Give it a break.

 

[EvolutionDenier]

Is there some reason you are the spamage poster today?
Give it a break.

Is there some reason you felt the need to spread your wangz, dipshit?

It's obvious you are unable to comprehend dates. How's it goin' otherwise, dipshit?

Is "dipshit" too much, dipshit?

 

[EvolutionDenier]

Is there some reason you are the spamage poster today?
Give it a break.

billnole is like, "Yeah, torbee told me its alright to say, 'Bettendorf is a real one, homieeeeez!'"

 

[SA_Hawk]

Gavin has been running a shadow campaign for months now just in case Joe falls or is pushed down the stairs.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

Biden is going to do very little campaigning over the next 14ish months, and he needs a reliable surrogate. Kamala Harris is not a great surrogate, so in steps Gavin Newsom to the rescue. Gavin is probably holding out hope that Ol' Joe will need to bow out before the convention and Gavin's name will be at or near the top of the list when the Democrat power players all meet in the smoke-filled room.

Better choice would be Whitmer if she was willing to do it.

Newsome is too polarizing.

 

[Ree4]

She seems less controversial than many and has a history in Minnesota of being tough on criminal prosecution as an attorney.

She checks a lot of the boxes Dem candidates desire to be.
Certainly less controversial than Harris.

Seems very similar to Harris to me, tough on crime, prosecutor, locked up a lot of weed users, no?

 

[MitchLL]

Seems very similar to Harris to me, tough on crime, prosecutor, locked up a lot of weed users, no?

Harris isn't a good public speaker, imo.

 

[TC Nole OX]

Gov. Gavin Newsom | Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)

 

[JRHawk2003]

Newsom v Whitmer

Newsome very clearly is best-positioned at the moment for a run in ‘28.