California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday tried to put the last nail in the coffin about running for president in 2024, even as the Democrat sparks campaign talk by embarking on a series of media interviews.
Mr. Newsom said even if President Biden would reverse course on running for reelection, Vice President Kamala Harris would be the natural successor.
“I think the vice president is naturally the one lined up, and the filing deadlines are quickly coming to pass. I think we need to move past this notion that he’s not going to run,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “President Biden is going to run, and looking forward to getting him reelected. I think there’s been so much wallowing in the last few months, and hand-wringing in this respect. But we’re gearing up for the campaign.”
Polls show little appetite among voters for a Biden-Trump rematch, despite all signs pointing toward that scenario. Democrats see Mr. Newsom as the future of the party and a potential presidential candidate after Mr. Biden is out of office, polls show.
Mr. Newsom is set to debate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a GOP presidential candidate, fueling speculation about the California Democrat’s White House ambitions.
He said there’s no scenario in which he’d run against Ms. Harris, despite her poll numbers being underwater.
“By definition: Won’t happen. I’ve said that 1,000 times,” Mr. Newsom said. “We privately continue to maintain a very good relationship, interpersonal.”
• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.
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