Gavin Newsom gambles on former president Joe Biden ahead of 2028 White House race

California Gov.Gavin Newsom is making a high-risk political bet as the race for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination slowly begins to take shape.The termed-out governor, who has openly contemplated a 2028 White House bid, is standing by former President Joe Biden despite growing efforts by some Democrats to move beyond the Biden era.While several potential White House contenders have criticized Biden’s record or questioned his decision to seek re-election in 2024, Newsom has charted a different course — repeatedly praising his accomplishments, defending his character and maintaining close ties with his family.The strategy could pay dividends in a Democratic primary but become a liability in a general election, according to political strategist Matt Klink.“It may help Gavin Newsom win the Democratic primary, but it destroys him in the general election,” Klink, president of Klink Strategies, told The California Post.

“Democrats keep nominating candidates who can’t win because they lack broad appeal.” “Gavin Newsom is sprinting down the same road – an out-of-touch, progressive California Democrat who wants to make the United States look like California.That’s a scary thought for most of the country,” he added.

Newsom has spent much of the past year publicly defending Biden’s record even as other Democrats have attempted to turn the page on the former president.Speaking to a crowd in South Carolina earlier this year, Newsom declared: “I’ll never turn my back on Joe Biden.”The governor has also praised Biden’s legislative achievements, describing his administration as “a masterclass of policymaking” during an interview earlier this year and calling him “one of the most successful presidents in the last century” during a television appearance last fall.Last week, Newsom further underscored his ties to the Biden family by hosting the former president’s son, Hunter Biden, on his podcast.During the conversation, Hunter Bide...