Politics
Fetterman blasts Newsom over ‘shadow’ campaign against Biden
By Jake Beardslee · November 7, 2023
In brief…
- Fetterman spoke in Iowa, referenced Rep. Phillips' official primary challenge
- Polls show Biden struggling against Trump in key states, seen as 'too old'
- Newsom denies presidential ambitions, but some say he's positioning himself
Speaking at a Democratic Party dinner in Iowa, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) took aim at California Gov. Gavin Newsom saying, “Let me say something that might be uncomfortable. Right now there are two additional Democrats running for Pennsylvania, excuse me, running for president right now,” according to Fox News Digital.
“One, one is a congressman from Minnesota. The other one is the governor of California. They’re both running for president, but only one had the guts to announce it,” Fetterman continued.
The Pennsylvania Democrat was referencing Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips’ recent announcement that he will mount a primary challenge to Biden, while Newsom has faced accusations in recent months of positioning himself for the presidency without officially declaring his candidacy.
Fetterman’s criticism of Newsom comes as speculation grows that President Biden may opt not to run for a second term. A recent New York Times-Siena College poll showed Biden trailing former President Trump in key swing states like Nevada, Georgia, Arizona, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
A Monmouth University poll also found 76% of voters believe the 80-year-old Biden is “too old” to serve another term, compared to just 48% who said the same of the 77-year-old Trump.
Newsom has repeatedly denied he is running for president, telling NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo in September he is “not worthy of that conversation” and that Biden “deserves it.”
But GOP Rep. Doug LaMalfa believes Newsom’s recent high-profile trips, including to China, indicate he is “running the back channels until Biden takes himself out and the party says, ‘Man we’re going to get killed on this,” he told Fox News Digital.
Fetterman warned fellow Democrats, “If you are a Democrat that wants to criticize and go after Joe Biden, our president, just go ahead and write a check for Trump.”