I agree BD. It won’t work.

Hey Wil, you’re late. BD and I checked in yesterday.

Good to have you back! 🙂

The two governors will meet for 90 minutes Nov. 30 on Fox News Channel, with commentator Sean Hannity moderating. Fox is calling it “The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate.”

“Gavin Newsom is taking a risk by doing this debate. He is facing questions about if his focus is on Californians or if his focus is on his national ambitions,” said Christian Grose, academic director of the University of Southern California Schwarzenegger Institute.

While too much emphasis on national politics could mean “great risk” for Newsom, Grose said, the governor “can score a victory at home with Californians” if he emphasizes the state’s growth, tolerance and diversity.

Newsom, 56, is looking ahead. He sees a Democratic Party eager for aggressive, center-left leadership. Though he says he’s not interested in a White House run next year, the Democratic Party lacks a consensus front runner for 2028 or even next year should President Joe Biden step aside.

In recent months he has made all the moves of a presidential contender, setting up a sophisticated fundraising operation, traveling to Israel and China, barnstorming through red Southern states to meet with Democrats and donating to campaigns.

But unlike U.S. senators or House members, governors are uniquely responsible if things go wrong at home, and can be uniquely vulnerable if voters feel they’re not focused on state business. And some things have gone wrong for Newsom.

“Newsom’s vanity play to get national attention isn’t playing well at home,” said Steve Maviglio, a Sacramento Democratic consultant.