Gavin Newsom Says He Won’t Run For President Even If Biden Bows Out Of 2024 Race – ‘Won’t Happen’

(Daily Mail) California Gov. Gavin Newsom slammed speculation he’s planning to run for president in 2024, saying he is all in for Joe Biden and that Kamala Harris is the natural heir.

Newsom also addressed the calls he’s been making to top Democratic donors, which had sparked the speculation he was considering a primary challenge to the president.

He said his message to the donors wondering if the nominee will be someone besides Biden was: ‘Time to move on. Let’s go.’

Polls have shown that many Democrats would like an option other than Biden. There have been concerns raised about his age: at 80, Biden is the oldest president in U.S. history.

A Wall Street Journal poll out this week found that 75 percent of voters think Biden is too old to be president.

And a CNN poll out in July found 75 percent of Democratic and left-leaning voters who don’t want to see Biden run for another term

Newsom, 55, has long topped the list of possible Democratic presidential candidates. He’s governor of the biggest state in the union. With a GDP of $3.6 trillion, if California were a country, it would be the fifth largest economy in the world.

He’s staked out policy positions that appeal to Democrats: he proposed a constitutional amendment that would install new federal gun controls, including universal background checks; he’s pushed an ambitious climate agenda, such as banning the sale of new gas-powered cars; and he’s formed a coalition of governors to ensure access to abortions.

Additionally, he’s picked fights with top Republicans like Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis.

Newsom and DeSantis – both combative governors who have staked out positions on immigration and education at the opposite ends of the political spectrum – have agreed to a debate hosted by Fox News host Sean Hannity. The date is yet to be determined.

There were reports some in the White House were upset with the idea, particularly those Vice President Kamala Harris.

Newsom and Harris could be competitors in a 2028 Democratic presidential primary if both opt to run for the White House.

The California governor told NBC News he’s not heard from anyone in the White House about the upcoming showdown. He said he read reports some in Harris’ office were upset but hadn’t heard directly from the vice president.

‘Apparently someone in her office is, because I read some off-the-record quotes. I wish I knew who that was. But I don’t hear it from her so – and I’m certainly not hearing it from the White House itself,’ he said.

Newsom, in the interview, also shut down any talk he might challenge Harris, saying the two have a ‘very good relationship.’

‘I think the vice president is naturally the one lined up’ to run after Biden, he said, noting ‘maybe I’m a little old-fashioned about, you know, presidents and vice presidents. I was a lieutenant governor, so I’m a little subjective.’

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.’

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