Gov. Gavin Newsom says Michigan ruling shows he's 'all in' for Biden

South Haven — California Gov. Gavin Newsom described himself as “very much involved” in President Joe Biden’s campaign at an event in Michigan Thursday, saying a question about what would happen if Biden dropped out of the race was “very unnecessary.”

Newsom, who many see as a potential future presidential candidate, spoke at a rally in South Haven, a day after he and other Democratic governors met with Biden in Washington, D.C., following a weak debate performance that raised doubts about the future of his reelection bid.

“I was really proud to be with Joe Biden last night,” Newsom told the crowd in Michigan. “He started the meeting. The first words out of his mouth were, ‘I’m all in.’”

“No one came out of there without saying, ‘We support you, Mr. President,’” Newsom added. “No one. Not one.”

Asked later by a reporter whether he would support Vice President Kamala Harris for president if Biden ultimately decides to withdraw from the Democratic nomination, Newsom said the question was “very unnecessary and that’s exactly the question and the answer that the Republican Party wants us to have.”

“Joe Biden is our president,” Newsom said. “He said he was all in on his campaign. I doubled down, I said I was all in on my campaign. And not only that, I’m here with you to prove it.”

Biden, who is 81, is trailing in key state polls with four months to go before the Nov. 5 election. In the first debate of the 2024 race between Biden and Trump, on June 27, a week ago, Biden gave meandering and confusing answers, including at one point declaring, “We finally beat Medicare.”

His performance has prompted some to call for him to step aside and let someone else be the Democratic nominee. And in recent days, two Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives — Rep. Jared Golden of Maine and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington — have publicly predicted that Trump will beat Biden.

Asked about the representatives’ comments, Newsom said they came from a “very small number of people.” Biden has strong support among Democrats in Congress, Newsom added.

“There are a few people who have expressed other views,” Newsom said. “But it’s remarkable unity given that Donald Trump’s vice president (Mike Pence) is not supporting his reelection.”

“I think we’re in a pretty good position.”

Mike Pence had previously said he would not support Donald Trump this year. After the 2020 election, which Trump lost to Biden, Trump supporters pressured Pence, unsuccessfully, to try to reverse the outcome when Congress met to certify the results.

In Michigan on Thursday, Newsom touted Biden as “one of the most transformative presidents” of his lifetime. Newsom also highlighted Biden’s economic record, noting that the unemployment rate is hovering around 4%.

Democrats exceeded expectations in the 2018, 2020 and 2022 elections, Newsom said.

“Why am I not as concerned as some? Because you continue to outperform. Because you continue to deliver. Because you are here,” Newsom told the Michigan crowd.

About 250 people were on hand for Newsom’s campaign visit. The event took place in the backyard of a South Haven home, where some sat in lawn chairs and others watched from under a tent.

Mike Saenz, 61, of South Haven Township, one of the attendees, said the calls to abandon Biden were frustrating. The president can still win the election, Saenz said.

“We need to re-energize everyone because it was a tough time with this stupid debate,” Saenz said.

Rep. Joey Andrews, a Democrat from St. Joseph, said the crowd at Newsom’s stop was larger than organizers expected. The race between Biden and Trump in Michigan is tight, Andrews added.

“I have a hard time imagining Michigan voters going back to 2016 and voting for Trump again,” Andrews said. “But we all have to make our case.”

However, in a statement released Thursday by the Michigan Republican Party, state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township, claimed Newsom’s visit was representative of Biden’s failed presidential campaign.

“As both responsible for the chaos at the southern border, the high cost of food and gasoline, and the lawlessness in major cities, we know Michigan voters see through the charade of these ineffective and short-sighted politicians,” Nesbitt said.

Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are both considered Democrats who could run for president one day.

Newsom referenced Whitmer once in his speech Thursday, noting that she also attended Wednesday’s meeting with Biden in Washington, D.C.

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