I think a lot of Democrats are terrified of going from bad to worse, making their way from the frying pan to the fire. See the frying pan is President Joe Biden who has a pathetic 42% approval rating. The fire is Vice President Kamala Harris, whose approval rating is even more pathetic at 32%. 

According to a new poll by NBC News, an incredible 49% of registered voters has a negative view of Harris. See the difference between those two figures? Negative 17 points is the lowest net negative rating for any vice president in the history of the poll, according to NBC News. See, apparently an annoying cackle at the end of a sentence that you’ve just mangled does not inspire confidence. 

Added up it’s easy to see why Harris’s future atop the Democratic leader board is far from a done deal. And the anxiety that may Democrats feel about someone as unqualified, unlikable and untested as Harris ascending to the White House, in turn becomes anxiety that they feel about Biden’s age and health and vitality. It’s all connected. The Biden presidency is about to take a dramatic turn, the President will turn 81 in November. And for the last several weeks, the drumbeats have gotten louder suggesting that Biden won’t or perhaps should not complete his bid for re election. 

Stories are emerging, quoting anonymous sources close to the Biden campaign, who say that the candidate’s heart just isn’t in this race. Harris was recently asked about Biden’s age and she said, hey, it’s not an issue. And quote, Joe Biden is going to be just fine. Yeah, but Harris also said if she had to take over the presidency and become Commander in Chief tomorrow, she’d be ready to do it. 

All across the Democratic Party, you better believe there’s a lot of people out there praying this is unnecessary, because they’re not ready for Harris to do it. That’s how little confidence Harris’s own party has in her ability to take the reins from Biden. What are Democrats supposed to do? What will become of the party of Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, each of whom cruised to reelection? Is the party doomed to lose the 2024 election and carry around the shame that goes with letting former President Donald Trump reclaim the White House? 

Don’t worry, like underdog, Governor Gavin Newsom of California is ready to swoop in and save the day. The 55 year old chief executive of the nation’s most populous state insisted again just recently, he’s not running for president. No. And he’s confident that Biden will be reelected. In fact, he said he’s going to do everything he can to ensure that outcome. In fact, he says we should all just, quote, move on. 

Sure. That’s the party line. What else is Newsom supposed to say? If he wants to remain a loyal team player and not upset the applecart in a way that could weaken Biden and contribute to his eventual defeat? But it’s clear that Newsom, a career politician who’s never lost an election and who has no one left to defeat here in California, wants to be president so bad he can taste it. So what’s Newsom really up to? What’s Gavin’s game? Is he helping Biden or helping himself? 

For instance, when he recently challenged Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, to a debate and DeSantis accepted? Was Newsom trying to help Biden? Help him do what? DeSantis, who trails for President Donald Trump by 45 points, is no threat to Biden, he’s a threat to anyone. But DeSantis could make a good sparring partner for Newsom who is a highly skilled and personable communicator, as well as a natural politician.

Let Republicans snipe at California with its crime, homelessness and high cost of living is exactly a model that other states in the union should aspire to. That only shows us how little they know about what actually wins elections. See, this is not how people go about picking presidents. Voters want someone who makes them feel comfortable and confident that he or she can do the job and do it. Well. That’s Gavin Newsom. And as we speak, the California kid is warming up in the bullpen.