During Thursday’s MSNBC debate broadcast, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) fired back at President Joe Biden’s performance, saying, “We’ve all been there. All of us, none of you, the audience, have been there,” and that “we’re not going to turn our backs on one performance.” Newsom also said talk of Democrats panicking over Biden’s performance “is unhelpful to the fate and future of our democracy, our country and the world.”
After Newsom essentially defended Biden, host Alex Wagner asked, “On abortion, which is a key Democratic issue, the president’s response has been disjointed and off-point at best. Do you think he’s done what he needed to do on an issue that could sway voters at the polls?”
Newsom responded: “I don’t think this is super important because this is a very small thing and the American people have made up their mind. They don’t support Donald Trump’s policies. They don’t support his policies at all or his assertion that the American people have always wanted this as a states’ right. This is ridiculous and absurd. So from that standpoint, I don’t think it matters.”
She added that Democrats “should do more and not worry. We have an opportunity to turn the page, we have an opportunity to bow down, we have an opportunity to universally support this president who has stood by us. Don’t turn your back. Go home 100%, full steam ahead with the people who brought you to the dance. And I’m very, very proud of the way he’s been able to articulate the job he’s done and lay the foundation for understanding the lies and the deception that continue to come out of the mouth of Donald Trump.”
Wagner continued, “You’ve been getting question after question about whether Biden should resign. There’s panic among Democrats and strategists who watched the debate and even people inside the Democratic campaign. Do you think that’s unfounded?”
After Governor Wagner said there was panic, Newsom said, “There should be no panic.”
At the end of Wagner’s question, he said, “I don’t think it’s helpful. I don’t think it’s necessary. We have to hold our heads high and support this president. We’re not going to turn our backs on him after one performance. Is there any party that can do that? A spectacular performance, 15.6 million jobs. That’s eight times more than the last three Republican presidents combined. The only thing the last three Republican presidents have in common is recession. Democrats delivered. This president delivered. We need to deliver for him now. With all due respect, we’re going to start having these conversations and going down the rabbit hole.”[s], [it’s] It does nothing for our democracy, the fate and future of this country, or the world.”
Newsom added that Biden had more “stamina” as the night went on.
Later, when asked if Biden should take part in the next debate, Newsom replied, “Absolutely. We’ve all been through those nights. All of us, none of us watching, have been through those nights. … There are good times, there are bad times.”
to follow Ian Hanchett’s Twitter Ian Hanchett
