Could a political civil war soon be on the horizon for Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Vice-President Kamala Harris?
Politics :
Let’s be frank: we all know that (if he doesn’t go to jail) Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee and (if he remains healthy) President Joe Biden will be the Democratic nominee for president in 2024. However, it appears that both Republicans AND Democrats are at least preparing for a Plan B.
According to POLITICO, Gov. Newsom made it clear back in September that he does not intend to run for president in 2024 and that he fully intends to back President Biden for re-election.
“We need to move past this notion that he’s not going to run,” Newsom said of the president during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press. “President Biden is going to run and I’m looking forward to him getting re-elected.”
Still, reports are rampant that Democratic operatives are considering the very real possibility that Mr. Biden could step aside, fall prey to the Hunter Biden legal drama, become too incapacitated, or even pass away between now and election day — and are quietly considering all scenarios to keep Donald Trump from ever occupying the Oval Office again.
Democrats are keenly aware of President Biden’s declining poll numbers. However, according to FiveThirtyEight, the numbers for Kamala Harris are even lower. Needless to say, it would behoove the party to have a viable Plan B in place — and that’s where a potential Gavin Newsom vs Kamala Harris civil war could come into play.
So, why wouldn’t Democrats simply pivot to Vice-President Harris in the event President Biden were to become sidelined for some reason? Political consultant Keith Naughton presented an interesting theory.
“As an old, white male Catholic, Biden running with a minority female checked some important identity boxes. However, given an opportunity to establish herself as the next Democratic hope, Harris has proven rather maladroit,” Naughton expressed. “Something about her isn’t quite right. Her speeches are mediocre, with poorly thought-out ad-libs. Her awkwardness with voters is positively Hillary Clintonesque. After spending her life in the progressive hothouse of California, Harris has shown little ability to build appeal in the other more centrist 49 states.
“The most popular Democrat, Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), is even older than Biden. The septuagenarian Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is getting there. Pete Buttigieg’s (D-Ind.) tenure at Transportation has been miserable. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) are nowhere to be found,” Naughton continued. He then added that Gavin Newsom appears to be the next logical choice for Democrats to turn to if need be.
Interestingly, President Biden recently lauded Newsom as a potential future president.
“I want to talk about Gov. Newsom. Want to thank him. He’s been one hell of a governor, man,” Mr. Biden said recently during a welcome reception at the APEC summit. “Matter of fact, he could be anything he wants. He could have the job I’m looking for,” the president concluded.
Despite his conservative background and opinion, Naughton and, even President Biden could be onto something.
Newsom has been boosting his national profile via a series of media appearances in the event of a possible last-minute 2024 run. His PR team has been working overtime to keep his name and image in the public eye. He’s been campaigning for Biden in predominately red states while taking out ads attacking GOP governors in Florida and Texas. He recently made a trip to China to discuss foreign policy with President Xi Jinping. And, as if that’s not enough, he’s also scheduled to debate GOP presidential candidate Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida in a primetime event later this week.
By contrast, Vice-President Harris is stuck in Washington and unable to make a move without first obtaining approval from the White House. She is tied to all the decisions and policies of the president and has no ability to express her own opinions on almost anything. Additionally, because she works at the pleasure of the president, she is expected to fully support him in her duty as next in line to the presidency.
Granted, Democrats are hoping and praying that President Biden will remain healthy and viable enough to defeat Donald Trump once again in 2024. However, they also appear to be quietly propping up a popular White, male governor (instead of the Black, female, former senator-turned-vice-president) as their best Plan B to whip Trump if needed.
And that scenario could launch an unexpected and problematic Democratic civil war.
OK WASSUP! discusses Politics:
A Gavin Newsom vs Kamala Harris civil war?
Honestly, I’m not thrilled with any of these people.
The Republican party is a complete toxic wasteland. The Democratic party is only slightly less toxic. And in my opinion, both parties sold their souls to Wall Street, big corporations and to the state of Israel a long time ago, at the expense of the American people.
And we’re paying for ALL of that today!