Gavin Newsom is a superstar...

[In It to Win It]

Link to tweet

Look, it’s clear that DeSantis broke the law. Question is which law did he break? Did he break the laws of his own state? Did he break federal law? But one thing he did is he broke with precedent, any precedent of decency and honor; his lack of character on display. He comes into another state, your state, to try to find pawns in a political game, rounds them up, send them to an island, and then fundraises off it. What does it say about his character and the character of the Republican Party that celebrated that act of cruelty and dehumanization? So I called it out because I find it offensive and disgraceful and I find it increasingly normalized now the republican party.

It’s certainly well established here with Greg Abbott, who is apparently getting more attention on this topic than Ron DeSantis and he wanted in, and I mean that, and that’s what happened to the Republican Party in this country, and that needs to be called out and Ron DeSantis rightfully is being called out but by not enough people and that’s what concerns me, particularly with the silence, the appalling silence within the Republican Party.

[brush]

1. He is a super star. Only thing is, if Joe doesn't run...

Harris is ahead of him. And there's also Gretchen Whitmer.

[Bucky]

2. ain't no "ahead of him" in a democracy

Leadership belongs to those who get out front and offer real leadership.

I'd vote for Newsom or Harris or Whitmer or anyone else we nominate. Gavin is far from being my first choice--I like Cory Booker. But the only way to deserve a nomination is to offer the ideas and passion and values that a president needs to lead in this perilous time.

[brush]

6. Booker would be a very long shot.

[Bucky]

11. Yah, I know. But I think he could be an FDR-level transformational candidate

I think Booker could bring out all sorts of disaffected and lapsed voters. There's a heart there that don't see in most other candidates. He's not polished. He's real when he speaks from the heart.

But honestly I wouldn't mind any of the above mentioned candidates. I've been totally in love with Elizabeth Warren for 10 years. But I think the party needs to go with someone under 60. If we could find one someone under 50, that would be inspiring. The best Democrats in the last century have been 50 or younger when elected--FDR, Clinton, JFK, Obama... We always seem to win when we look to the future.

[NullTuples]

17. I would of course vote for VP Harris for Pres. But she has not been...

...building her image with meaningful actions that people remember. She's not gaining a reputation of fighting and speaking out.

Part of it is that she's hampered by her position, but there's more. Both she & Newsom have made gaffes but he's a white man so his are mostly forgotten - or worse, seen as a form of privilege-swagger that some voters (even some Democratic voters) admire.

I do hope VP Harris spends the next two years actively building her reputation as a fighter and even pushes the boundary of what a VP can do, but I fear she will stand back due to believing the position needs to appear non-partisan. For instance, she could be everywhere right now, speaking for abortion rights. Not only because it's the right thing to do but because it would focus voters on the one issue the GOP wants them to forget about. That would go a long way toward boosting her polling.

But in regards to your comment: there's no "ahead of him". This isn't a monarchy.

If someone's polling is low - and VP Harris has rarely been a favorite lately - when DNC voting comes, unless something changes or there are massive backroom deals made, I just don't think she currently could pull in the votes. To be clear though I'd happily vote for a ticket of the two of them, in either order. Or Whitmer, for that matter.

[brush]

19. VPs are at a disadvantage from governors and senators...

as they have to be a team player and do what the president wants/assigns them to do.

She'll be in the picture though if Joe doesn't run.

[NullTuples]

23. Always.

[Polybius]

20. She's not ahead of him in popularity though

She won't win the Presidential nomination in 2024 (if Biden doesn't run) or 2028.

[brush]

24. Neither you or I know that.

[ShazzieB]

35. None of us "knows" that.

But at this poinxt in time, i think it's fair to say that it looks like 2024 would be an uphill battle.

A lot can happen between now and 2028, but 2024 is right around the corner.

[ElementaryPenguin]

3. I could easily see...

Gavin Newsom becoming the Dem nominee if Joe doesn't run for reelection.

I think he would absolutely destroy any Repub nominee!

[ZonkerHarris]

4. We love him here in CA.

[Retrograde]

13. He's OK

He's accomplished a lot because he has a Democratic state assembly and senate backing him: I don't know how he'd work with an opposing legislative branch.

I'm voting for him for governor again come October, but he's not my first choice for president. Unfortunately, the people I think would be good presidents don't have the media coverage: Warren, Klobucher, Harris come to mind.

[NullTuples]

18. The way GOP legislatures are now, no Dem can accomplish much. That's their stated goal.

[Zilli]

5. Seems to be what the republican party now stands for

Cruelty, demonization and LIES, without honor, integrity or ethics of any kind.

[flying_wahini]

16. Welcome to DU Zilli!

[The Unmitigated Gall]

26. It's a sad reflection

On the character of most republicans these days.

Oh, and Welcome!

[dajoki]

7. The Democratic Party has a bevy of stars...

that are extremely qualified to run this country. Right now I will support President Biden as much as I can and hope that the midterms go our way, the American way.

[mjvpi]

10. I couldn't agree more.

[Marthe48]

8. I'm so proud of Gov. Newsom

I hope he runs for President of the U.S.

[mjvpi]

9. Newsom is really focused in his criticism of evil MAGATS. Fools piss him off.

He has my attention when he speaks.

[Sky Jewels]

12. He's such a breath of fresh air. This is the type of Democrat we've been hoping for.

He's not afraid to hold the power of his convictions and punch back at the extremist, fascist GOP. He goes on the offense, which is what we've been needing from ALL of our representatives. Over 40 years, too many (not all! I know, I know) Dems were namby-pamby, kowtowing, don't-rock-the-boat types. Enough of that shit! Be more like Gavin, Dems!

[YoshidaYui]

14. I got to meet him

Was very impressed!!

[LakeArenal]

15. Joe will serve a two term presidency.

[EmmaLee E]

21. JOE is like FDR a transformative president we need

[NullTuples]

22. Especially if we regain practical control of Congress

[Elessar Zappa]

25. I think so too.

Plus he will have an advantage as an incumbent in 2024.

[mahina]

29. I sure hope so.

Plan A.

What type of all is right moves nobody’s perfect I really loved when he told that orange piece of garbage “shut up man”

[Demsrule86]

30. We need Joe Biden to win the rustbelt states. And let me say at the risk of upsetting my

California DU friends, I like Newsom too as a progressive Democrat. I do like him. But I would never vote for him in a primary. Why you ask? I look at elections. I run statistics. I find it endlessly fascinating. Newsom would be great if we elected our presidents with the popular vote. But we don't. I look at the map 270 to win and I see no chance of a Newsom winning rust-belt states...these are must-win states in order for us to win the presidency. We need to keep the GOP out of power in 24 and in 28 too. We are going to need union-friendly candidates like Whitmar (although women face tougher elections), Fetterman, Ryan...just to name a couple. I could see Barnes in 28 as a VP...if all goes well and he beats Ron Johnson. Newsom can't run to the middle with his long history in deep blue California and he is from California...there is a prejudice against Californians in the rust-belt...decade long. It is stupid of course, but there it is.

[LakeArenal]

31. I have a problem that he married Guilfoyle.

How could that have ever happened?

I have a trans friend from SF that hates him. He’s very convincing regarding Newsome’s negatives. So I’ve really had only negative vibes from the idea of him as President.

[Mz Pip]

34. It was a long time ago

And she wasn’t nuts back then. She was a well respected Assistant District Attorney.

Kind of hard to believe now. I don’t know what her political affiliation was 30 years ago, but even if she was a Republican, Republicans in San Francisco way back then weren’t batshit insane.

[TheProle]

27. So was Teddy Kennedy

[Skittles]

28. "an act of cruelty and dehumanization"

and these fucking assholes call themselves "PRO-LIFE CHRISTIANS"

[Just A Box Of Rain]

32. This Californian will be supporting President Joe Biden for reelection in 2024 in part

because I belive he's turning out to be one of the all-time greats at the job and in part because I think he's the Democrat best suited to defeat Trump (again).

This other talk is a divisive distraction AFAIM.

[GuppyGal]

33. Gavin lays it down we need more of people like him orating for the party.....and HAMMERING

[paulkienitz]

36. yup, looks like he's running in '24

I think I'd probably prefer Kamala.