Gavin Newsom dismisses talk of 2024 bid to challenge Biden

California Gov. Gavin Newsom shut down speculation he will challenge President Biden in the 2024 presidential race, saying Democrats should “move on” from the issue of the octogenarian commander-in-chief’s age.

“President Biden is going to run,” Newsom told NBC’s “Meet the Press” in a teaser clip that aired Friday.

“I think there’s been so much wallowing in the last few months and handwringing in this respect. But we’re gearing up for the campaign. We’re looking forward to it.”

Newsom, 55, said his advice to donors who are concerned about the prospect of an 81-year-old Democratic incumbent next year is “time to move on.”

Asked whether Vice President Kamala Harris, 58, is a capable replacement should Biden choose to step down, he also added, “It’s the Biden-Harris administration.”

The Golden State governor prompted conjecture of his own presidential run earlier this year after appearing for an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity and challenging Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to debate their state’s contrasting policies.

“Maybe I’m a little old-fashioned about presidents and vice presidents,” he went on. “I was a lieutenant governor, so I’m a little subjective.”

Newsom touted his “extraordinarily close working relationship” with Harris during her tenure as San Francisco’s district attorney, California’s attorney general and as a US senator.

“We knew each other before we were both in politics. The day I got sworn in as mayor, walked across the street, she got sworn in as district attorney,” he said. 

“So you can’t imagine ever having to run against each other?” host Chuck Todd asked.

“Of course not. By definition, won’t happen,” Newsom replied. “But I’ve said that a thousand times. We privately continue to maintain a very good relationship.”

“She’s not upset that you’re going to debate Ron DeSantis?” Todd pressed.

“Apparently someone in her office is because I read some off-the-record quotes,” Newsom said. “I wish I knew who that was. But I don’t hear it from her, so, and I’m certainly not hearing it from the White House itself.”

DeSantis, 44, agreed last month to verbally spar with Newsom over their leadership in their respective states.

“Florida has been the number-one state for net in-migration. We have the number one-ranked economy, number one now in education, crime rate at a 50-year low,” the Florida governor told Fox News in August.

“But in another sense, this is the debate for the future of our country, because you have people like Joe Biden [who] would love to see the Californication of the United States.”

DeSantis also hinted during his interview that Newsom and Harris were both eyeing the Oval Office.

A Wall Street Journal poll this week shows 73% of registered voters — and two-thirds of Democrats — believe Biden is too old to serve a second term.

The president is also lagging behind almost every Republican candidate in a general election matchup, except entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, according to a CNN survey of US adults. He is tied with DeSantis.

The Florida governor is in a distant second place to GOP frontrunner and former President Donald Trump, 77, who is leading the field with 52.7% support, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average. Just 14.2% favor DeSantis.

The Newsom-DeSantis debate is expected to occur in November in an election battleground state such as Nevada, Georgia or North Carolina, an aide for the California governor told Politico in August.