Gavin Newsom says Ron DeSantis avoided getting ‘trounced in his own state’ by dropping out
Gavin Newsom, Ron DeSantis. Image via AP.

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‘Obviously, studying him for some time, he’s a different guy.’

Gavin Newsom believes Gov. Ron DeSantis avoided career-altering humiliation this week by dropping out of the Primary race for President.

“If he continued on … he was going to get trounced in his own state,” Newsom said.

Newsom, whom many consider to be a top presidential contender for 2028, debated DeSantis in late November on Fox News. The two traded barbs over their respective approaches to running large states. While some attributed his performance to the help of an overly biased moderator in Sean Hannity, most agreed DeSantis edged his West Coast counterpart in the contest.

Not that it mattered much, Newsom said during a Thursday interview with MSNBC’s Alex Wagner. DeSantis’ debate performance did little to nothing to shift the perception that the best outcome he could hope for in the Primary was a distant second place behind Donald Trump.

And that’s less due to Trump than DeSantis’ lack of likability, propensity to get “wound up” when confronted and inability to convey the “why” of his campaign, Newsom added

“Just on a humanizing level, you know, having spent a tiny bit of time with him, obviously studying him for some time, he’s a different guy,” he said. “Now I saw him with his kid on a video. I’m like, ‘Who’s that guy?’”

After placing far behind Trump in the Iowa caucuses last week, DeSantis announced Sunday that he was suspending his campaign and endorsed Trump.

DeSantis’ departure from the race made the GOP contest a two-person battle between Trump and Nikki Haley, a former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Ambassador who Newsom said should — and is likely to — call it quits soon.

“If she’s down 20, 30 points in a couple weeks, what would be the political benefit of a former Governor to lose her home state?” he said. “I don’t think she would do that. My sense is she would drop out. But I see no signs … in the last couple days that she has any chance whatsoever.”

Jesse Scheckner

Jesse Scheckner has covered South Florida with a focus on Miami-Dade County since 2012. His work has been recognized by the Hearst Foundation, Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Society of News Editors, Florida MMA Awards and Miami New Times. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @JesseScheckner.


28 comments

  • The Dude

    January 26, 2024 at 2:12 pm

    Gavin Newsom sits over a state that has lost its first congressional seat since it became a
    State. Companies are leaving as well. Taxes are high. Look at what has happened to the beautiful city of San Francisco. Smash and grab robberies are a way of life. Power outages are a way of life. California has lost its magic that’s why they come to Florida.

    • Marvin M.

      January 26, 2024 at 3:36 pm

      So I take it you agree the 2020 census data was accurate then.

      • Kamwick

        January 26, 2024 at 7:41 pm

        Good burn, Marvin.

    • TJC

      January 26, 2024 at 4:22 pm

      The State of California contributed more to the GDP of the U.S. than any other state in the Union in 2023. 14.2% of the U.S. GDP came from California. 5.5% came from Florida.
      If California has “lost its magic,” it apparently never needed it. All by itself, California is the 5th largest economy in the world. People are leaving because it is expensive to live there, but even without them, it remains an economic powerhouse that Florida will not match in our lifetimes.

      • ValentinaThomas

        January 27, 2024 at 5:47 am

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      • Foolsrus

        January 27, 2024 at 7:24 am

        Why don’t you ask California’s citizebs living by broken cartel terrorist run borders, failing schools, crime victims and disabled homeless Vets dying in California’s drug infested urine soaked major city streets if they give a shite about Cali bring “an economic powerhouse.’ Newsom is a humanitarian disaster.

    • It Shows

      January 27, 2024 at 6:55 am

      158 colleges & universities.

      178 prisons with 99,000 prisoners.

      That is Florida.

      Facts.

    • Joey

      February 1, 2024 at 8:55 am

      Still CA is the 5 economic of the World. What is Florida? The state with the most expensive homeowners insurance????

  • The Dude

    January 26, 2024 at 2:12 pm

    Gavin Newsom sits over a state that has lost its first congressional seat since it became a
    State. Companies are leaving as well. Taxes are high. Look at what has happened to the beautiful city of San Francisco. Smash and grab robberies are a way of life. Power outages are a way of life. California has lost its magic that’s why they come to Florida.

    • Marvin M.

      January 26, 2024 at 5:02 pm

      Well, I hope none of those people moving here want Medicaid, because they probably will not get it.
      DeSantis and others before him have refused to expand Medicaid coverage.

    • Kamwick

      January 26, 2024 at 7:42 pm

      That’s pretty funny.
      The reason people move to FL is that they are too poor to live in CA.

      CA has problems, but it’s still better than FL.

      • The Dude

        January 26, 2024 at 9:36 pm

        Yet you are here. Move there and tell us what it is like in Nirvana. Many companies and employees fleeing there will laugh at you.

        • Hung Wiil

          January 27, 2024 at 9:51 am

          The only burn, Kamwick, was for the underdeveloped intellect crowd. The 2020 census noted accurate trends in the aggregate, but had major flaws, benefitting states like New Jersey and Minnesota. Go figure. It is indisputable that Florida’s growth is far surpassing California, with regard to population. Also, California has a $38 billion deficit, with its expanding Medicaid and its state income tax, while Florida has an $18 billion surplus.
          New York has a $10 billion deficit, with its expanding Medicaid and state income tax. Texas has a $32 billion surplus, no Medicaid expansion and no state income tax. Eat crow, bro.
           https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/06/08/key-facts-about-the-quality-of-the-2020-census/

  • Craven Florida

    January 26, 2024 at 3:27 pm

    The Dude double-posts.

    • The Dude

      January 26, 2024 at 9:36 pm

      My apologies dude.

    • Dont Say FLA

      January 30, 2024 at 9:36 pm

      The internets aren’t that reliable in western Russia where Russians live and where Ukraine is exploding all their shit. Thus, double posts by The Dud.

  • Andrew Finn

    January 26, 2024 at 3:53 pm

    I have never agreed with Gavin Newsome on anything, but here I must finally do so. Now that DeSantis is in DeToilet after the first two rounds of voting. i believe he would have been absolutely demolished in the Florida vote. Would have been fun to watch. Since Ronnie Boy gave up, he has been sitting outside the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee. Somebody dressed it up to look like the White House and he can’t get in !!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA !!!!!!!!!!

    • Dont Say FLA

      January 29, 2024 at 7:38 am

      All Rhonda’s voters in Florida can and should still vote for Rhonda. They should make a big show of their support and love for him. Is probably too legally late for Florida to take Rhonda’s name off the G0Primary ballot

  • tom palmer

    January 26, 2024 at 3:53 pm

    DeSantis was toast way before the Florida primary. Newsom ought to focus on his state, though, not ours.

    • Kamwick

      January 26, 2024 at 7:43 pm

      Newsome is just providing some real and entertaining shade.

      Admittedly, today’s GQP is an easy target.

  • Dont Say FLA

    January 26, 2024 at 4:40 pm

    What is Newsome even talking about? Trump stomped Rhonda in Rhonda’s home state, Iowa.

  • Elmo

    January 26, 2024 at 7:30 pm

    Newsom did not lose that debate. DeSantis stood there all night and told countless lies. Anyone who can even hint that big boots Ron edged him out is out of touch.

    • The Dude

      January 26, 2024 at 9:46 pm

      Elmo’s world consists of CNN, MSNBC, NPR, The View. Elmo has a poster of Joy Behar in his bedroom.

      • JD

        January 27, 2024 at 6:57 am

        You’ve dropped Joy Behar’s name a few times. Got a redhead crush?

      • The Dude Attests

        January 27, 2024 at 6:57 am

        And you’re with Ann Coulter; so?

        • The Dude

          January 27, 2024 at 9:02 am

          Ann Coulter? Is she still around? The Dude does not hang with Ann Coulter.

          • Dont Say FLA

            January 30, 2024 at 9:37 pm

            The Dud even gets ditched by like minded yet relatively somewhat smart Ann Coulter. Sorry Dud. People just aren’t into milk that much anymore.

  • jean solomon

    January 31, 2024 at 11:58 am

    if you can’t cut it in CALIF., then by all means. move to FLORIDA.. another moron won’t even be noticed.

Comments are closed.


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