There has been plenty of buzz surrounding President Joe Biden’s future as the Democratic Party’s nominee. Even the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump has not distracted the public long enough to ease concerns about the president’s age and cognitive decline.
It has been reported that Democrats are working behind the scenes and in public to convince Biden to drop out of the race. There are indications that Biden might be amenable to this idea, which has sparked speculation as to who might replace him.
It seems that on the tip of everyone’s tongue are predictions about California Gov. Gavin Newsom becoming the new standard-bearer for the party. However, I would suggest that Newsom might not throw his hat in the ring this time around.
Members of Biden’s family, including First Lady Jill Biden, his son, Hunter, and his sister, Valerie Owens, have reportedly been at the center of discussions about the president’s possible exit from the race. Of particular concern to Democrats is Trump, whose resilience in the face of efforts to weaponize the government against him and the attempt on his life has possibly made him impossible to defeat.
Nevertheless, there has been speculation about Newsom’s presidential aspirations even since the beginning of the 2024 race. Many suspected that he was positioning himself to take over if Biden was unable to continue campaigning. However, I believe it is more likely that Newsom will decide that now is not the time.
For starters, as I stated previously, no Democrat is going to beat Trump after he got shot in the ear and kept things moving shortly afterward. The former president knows how to turn any situation to his advantage, and as horrible as it sounds, the shooting ended up being a political gift to Trump that he is already using to maximum effect.
If Newsom enters the race, he will likely lose, which won’t exactly help his future political aspirations. This brings me to my next point.
Newsom is 56 years old. Sure, he’s no spring chicken, but by the time 2028 rolls around, he will be about 60, which is still far younger than the Republican and Democrat currently vying for the White House. To put it simply, he has time. Even further, his final term ends in 2027, which means he can begin his presidential campaign shortly after.
If Newsom is a savvy politician – and he has shown that he is – he will simply bide his time. Let this race play out and continue remaining in the spotlight as California’s governor. In the meantime, he can continue his overseas trips and feuds with popular Republican figures as he did with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to keep himself and his hair gel relevant to the national conversation.
It is also worth noting that with Vice President Kamala Harris in the mix, it might be more trouble than it’s worth to try to fight for the nomination. While it is certainly possible that Democrats might jettison the black woman for a white guy, it is not probable at this point. Sure, Harris does not have the nomination cinched up, but the Democrats’ fixation on identity politics certainly gives her an edge.
Newsom has long been seen as someone who could one day represent the Democratic Party on the national stage. Despite the fact that he is a sleazy, narcissistic hypocrite, his charisma has enabled him to climb the ranks in the party. There can be no doubt that he has his sights set on the White House. However, if he is smart, he will wait for the most opportune time to make his move and 2024 isn’t it.