With Joe Biden’s age and cognitive decline, coupled with Kamala Harris’ unpopularity, there’s been speculation California Gov. Gavin Newsom would enter the 2024 presidential election to replace Biden.
However, Newsom said he has no intention to enter the 2024 presidential race.
“We need to move past this notion that he’s not going to run,” Newsom told NBC News’ Chuck Todd in an interview.
“Filing deadlines haven’t passed. President Biden doesn’t run, why shouldn’t we consider you a likely candidate?” Todd asked.
“Well, I think the vice president is naturally the one lined up and the filing deadlines are quickly coming to pass and I think we need to move past this notion that he’s not going to run,” Newsom replied.
“President Biden is going to run, and looking forward to getting him reelected. I think there’s been so much wallowing in the last few months, and handwringing in this respect. But we’re gearing up for the campaign. We’re looking forward to it,” he added.
WATCH:
🚨BREAKING: Gavin Newsom says he won’t run in 2024 and calls Kamala Harris the natural successor to Biden. pic.twitter.com/N8iL2BSAn6
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 8, 2023
The full interview is set to air Sunday morning on “Meet the Press” on NBC, The Hill noted.
The Hill reports:
Pressed on how he responds to private calls about 2024, Newsom said, “Time to move on. Let’s go.”
Newsom, who has long been considered a possible presidential contender, has repeatedly said he won’t run for the White House in 2024, even in the hypothetical that Biden, 80, decides against a reelection bid.
The California governor also stressed during the interview that, if Biden weren’t to run, Vice President Harris would be next up for the party to rally around.
“It’s the Biden-Harris administration. Maybe I’m a little old-fashioned … about presidents and vice presidents,” Newsom said.
Harris in recent interviews has said she’s prepared to be president “if necessary,” amid concerns about the president’s age, but she and other Biden allies have shrugged off those worries as they campaign for a second term.
If you need insight on what a Kamala Harris presidency would look like, watch her embarrassing display at the ASEAN Summit in Indonesia.
Newsom also addressed the possibility of running against Kamala Harris in the 2028 Democrat Primary.
Daily Mail reports:
Asked if he could imagine running against her, Newsom responded: 'Of course not. By definition. Won't happen. But we've – I've said that 1,000 times. We privately continue to maintain a very good relationship, interpersonal. Just, 'How are you doing? Checking in.' It's been a challenging few years with Covid. And we've had the opportunity to sit down, have lunch together in the White House, spend time talking about important things.'
Newsom and Harris rose in California in parallel lines, both coming to prominent attention in San Francisco, where they won offices that launched their careers.
Their rise together meant constant overlap - they traveled in the same political circles, wooed the same donors and hired some of the same consultants.
In 2003, Newsom was running to be San Francisco mayor and Harris its district attorney. Each won their perspective races resulting in the city's youngest mayor in more than 100 years and the state's first black district attorney being sworn in together in January 2004.
Newsom told NBC: 'We knew each other before we were both in politics. The day I got sworn in as mayor, walked across the street, she got sworn in as district attorney. Extraordinarily close working relationship, including her time in the Senate, my time up here.'
The two, however, have been described as 'frenemies.' Both seen as ambitious potential rivals for higher office, they have worked out their career paths in the past - endorsing one another without competing against each other.
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