In a recent Democratic Party dinner in Iowa, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman called out California Governor Gavin Newsom for what many perceive as a “shadow” presidential campaign against President Biden. Fetterman stated, “Right now there are two additional Democrats running for Pennsylvania, excuse me, running for president right now. One is a congressman from Minnesota. The other one is the governor of California. They’re both running for president, but only one had the guts to announce it.”
Fetterman further expressed his opinion, “If you are a Democrat that wants to criticize and go after Joe Biden, our president, just go ahead and write a check for Trump.” This comment was in reference to Democratic Representative Dean Phillips announcing his primary challenge to Biden, while Newsom has faced accusations of vying for the job without an official announcement.
Governor Newsom’s recent trips, including a visit to China, have raised speculation about his intentions as some believe President Biden may not run for a second term. GOP Congressman Doug LaMalfa criticized Newsom’s trips, stating, “He’s running the back channels until Biden takes himself out and the party says, ‘Man, we’re going to get killed on this.'”
Coinciding with these developments, a New York Times-Siena College poll revealed that Biden trails former President Trump in key swing states such as Nevada, Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Additionally, a Monmouth University poll indicated that 76% of voters believe Biden, at 80 years old, is “too old” to serve another term, compared to 48% who expressed the same sentiment about Trump at 77.
Despite these allegations and polls, Governor Newsom has consistently denied running for president. When asked about his intentions, he stated that he’s “not worthy of that conversation” and that Biden “deserves it.”
Requests for comments from the offices of both Newsom and Fetterman have not been immediately answered.
In conclusion, the recent remarks made by Senator Fetterman shed light on the ongoing speculation surrounding Governor Newsom’s potential presidential campaign against President Biden. These comments come at a time when polls indicate Biden’s trailing numbers against Trump and the perception that Biden may be too old for a second term. However, Governor Newsom has repeatedly denied any intention of running for president, emphasizing his support for Biden. The response from Newsom and Fetterman’s offices is currently awaited.
