Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been stumping for President Joe Biden in recent days, trying to pump up the sagging incumbent’s re-election prospects by touting his performance on the economy as well as his “character” and “decency.”
Newsom recently went to Nevada and South Carolina on Biden’s behalf, telling MSNBC last week, “I’ll go to the ends of the earth for this guy, I really would. I’m not making that up.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz, however, said he saw another angle to Newsom’s recent heavy lifting for Biden.
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“Gavin Newsom is not talking about the Joe Biden campaign he wants to be a part of. He’s talking about the 2024 campaign that he wants to run” as a presidential candidate, Gaetz told Newsmax host Eric Bolling on Monday night.
Gaetz, a Fort Walton Beach Republican, noted that he hears from Democrats in Congress each week who increasingly want a “substitution strategy” for someone else other than Biden.
But that creates a problem for the party on the left, the congressman added. Gaetz said it would be messy for Democrats to opt for Newsom while bypassing Vice President Kamala Harris.
Meanwhile, sticking with Harris does not help the Democrats.
Inserting Harris for Biden, said Gaetz, is akin to a “move from a dementia-ward escapee to the annoying lady from your HR department.”
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Gaetz reiterated that Newsom is not really touring Biden for Biden’s sake. Rather, it is for his own.
“Make no mistake: Gavin Newsom is not auditioning to be a spokesperson for Joe Biden. He’s auditioning to be a replacement.”
Newsom, who in November participated in a presidential-style debate with then-GOP candidate Gov. Ron DeSantis, has dismissed the claims that he is eyeing to be the nominee over Biden.
But Gaetz is not alone.
During the interview, Bolling also suggested Newsom wants to replace Biden.
Fox Business Network host Stuart Varney also asserted as much Monday, telling his viewers, “What he’s doing is waiting for the inevitable moment when our aging president steps aside, and the Democrats scramble for a replacement.”
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