Now that Joe Biden has revealed the full extent of his cognitive decline to the American public, Democrats know that they will face almost certain failure come November unless they are able to swap him out for a different candidate.
Gavin Newsom is basking in this moment. This is everything he has prepared for his entire life.
Newsom has walked a fine line: He has done everything possible to raise his national profile while at the same time ingratiating himself with Democrats and the Biden campaign.
At first, Newsom’s cavorting on the national stage drew significant jealousy from the Biden campaign, who worried that Newsom would challenge their candidate. His profile-raising actions included his tours of red states, launch of a national-focused super PAC, Fox News appearances, international travels, and debate with then-presidential candidate Ron DeSantis.
Newsom would eventually convince Biden and his campaign of his loyalty and earn his role as Biden’s top surrogate. That achievement led to the situation we had last night: Newsom was literally waiting in the wings at the debate as Biden’s No. 1 defender.
Now that Biden has shown the extent to which his age is impeding his mental abilities, Newsom is ready to swoop in and save the Democrats. And he is ready to do so while not coming across — to his party at least — as power-hungry.
Newsom continued to play the act of the selfless, supportive surrogate following the debate, knowing that, in the circumstance that Biden is convinced to end his campaign, this will best position him to take the nomination.
“You don’t turn your back because of one performance,” Newsom told MSNBC’s Alex Wagner. “What kind of party does that?”
If Biden pulls out, Newsom will have to contend against other candidates. But he is the man best-positioned to take the job.
With this short of a timeline, you need a candidate who can quickly capture the public’s attention and support. No one excels at this more than Gavin Newsom.
As I detail in my book, Newsom Unleashed: The Progressive Lust for Unbridled Power, out last week from Bombardier Books, Newsom has spent his entire political career galvanizing public acclaim through dramatic policy pronouncements and political stunts.
Just take a look at how Newsom made himself a national political star within weeks of being sworn in as San Francisco’s mayor.
On Feb. 12, 2004, Newsom thwarted the laws of California by becoming the first person to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in the United States. The new mayor staged the whole stunt perfectly. He did it just before Valentine’s Day weekend, which gave news outlets reason to spin the illegal weddings into romantic stories and ensured that the courts would be closed due to the President’s Day holiday. In addition, Newsom persuaded longtime couple and LGBT activists Del Martin, age 83, and Phyllis Lyon, age 79, to be the first pair married in a ceremony he conducted.
Immediately upon the commencement of the weddings, Newsom made headlines nationwide. News networks repeatedly used the word “hero” to describe the young mayor. “You may have set a record for instant fame in this country,” said 60 Minutes’ Bob Simon in an interview with Newsom.
Newsom would be able to garner the same energy and attention in the event that he replaced Biden.
Kamala Harris’s name comes up often as a potential replacement for Biden because of her status as vice president and her race. However, since Harris’ approval rating is even worse than Biden’s, Democrats would have to ask themselves if there would be any point to replacing Biden with her. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer would be another viable option, but she does not have the national name recognition that Newsom has gained through his pseudo-campaign, nor has she displayed the same energy and charisma Newsom possesses.
Yes, selecting Newsom comes with the slight issue that California has become a total disaster zone under him. That’s not to mention the fact that the governor has severe personal baggage. But, when circumstances are dire, drastic steps must be taken.
Ellie Gardey Holmes is the author of Newsom Unleashed: The Progressive Lust for Unbridled Power.
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