California Gov. Gavin Newsom laughed after a Fox News reporter asked whether Joe Biden has a better chance of beating former President Donald Trump than he does.
Newsom has long been rumored to be running a shadow campaign, intending to step in and replace Biden at the last moment.
“The special counsel report released last week tilts in favor of President Biden. This was, quote, a sympathetic, well-meaning older man with a poor memory. What do you think of this?” the reporter began.
The reporter continued: “And then also for the 2024 election… Does 81-year-old President Biden have a better chance of beating Donald Trump than you? And you don’t agree with the 86% of Americans who think he’s too old to run?”
The question elicited a round of chuckles from Newsom and members of his administration.
“Well, I appreciate the framed question, but I also appreciate my president and his performance,” Newsom began.
“I’m a little old school. I care about results,” the governor said. “I care about governing. I care about people who deliver. And I care about people’s results, and what President Biden has accomplished in just three years is the most significant list of accomplishments of my life.
Newsom continued: “And I don’t say that lightly. I say this knowingly, because we are literally here as beneficiaries of these results. The Homekey motto was inspired by the partnerships we have made with this administration. The extraordinary investments in the Infrastructure Act, the extraordinary investments, CHIPS and the Science Act, the extraordinary and unprecedented investments across a broad spectrum that includes the Safer Communities Act and the new investments in mental health and gun safety.”
The mountains of praise didn’t stop there.
“The work he has done to eliminate this problem, for so many, who are burdened by student loans, could continue forever. The work he’s done in terms of managing his alliance. NATO is stronger and bigger than before. Russia is weaker than it has ever been,” Newsom said. “The work he has done in relation to strengthening our alliances, including perhaps some of the most important and consequential, current partnerships and new strategic alliances with Japan and South Korea in relation to what is happening around the world .”
Finally, the governor concluded, “So I’m very proud of this president and I’m very excited to be out there campaigning for him. To the question, the answer is yes. And I say this with enthusiasm, regardless of the moment in his life. And I’m very, very proud to be a Democrat and proud to support his re-election.”
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