Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a new interview that his priority for 2024 is to have President Joe Biden re-elected.
Newsom will appear Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” The network released a clip of the interview this week.
“Filing deadlines haven’t passed. President Biden doesn’t run, why shouldn’t we consider you a likely candidate?” host Chuck Todd said.
“Well, I think the vice president is naturally the one lined up, and the filing deadlines are quickly coming to pass, and I think we need to move past this notion that he’s not going to run,” Newsom said in reply. Biden has announced he is seeking a second term.
“President Biden is going to run, and looking forward to getting re-elected. 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. We’re looking forward to it,” he said.
Todd asked Newsom what he would say to those who are speculating about Biden not running.
“Time to move on. Let’s go,” he said.
Newsom’s comments were similar to those he made to The New York Times.
“‘The train has left the station,’ Mr. Newsom said,” the outlet reported this week. “‘We’re all in. Stop talking. He’s not going anywhere. It’s time for all of us to get on the train and buck up.’”
When Todd asked Newsom again about Biden not running, Newsom indicated he would support Vice President Kamala Harris.
“It’s the Biden-Harris administration,” he said.
“Maybe I’m a little old-fashioned about, you know, presidents and vice presidents. I was a lieutenant governor, so I’m a little subjective,” Newsom said, explaining that he knew Harris before they were both in politics, then they worked together when he was mayor of San Francisco and she was district attorney.