Staff Reports
Governor Gavin Newsom, known for being a Republican troll, couldn’t resist making snarky comments about the recent GOP debate. According to Newsom, the debate was like watching a game of XFL or a junior varsity game compared to the “professional campaign” being run by former President Donald Trump. He didn’t hold back his criticism, calling the candidates getting “lapped” by Trump and suggesting that the debate was barely on the level of a vice-presidential debate.
Of course, Newsom conveniently forgot to mention that Trump continues to enjoy a sky-high 60 percent approval rating among GOP voters. While the other candidates were busy bickering on stage, Trump was delivering a speech in Michigan to auto workers who are currently on strike. It was a strategic move that left President Joe Biden’s team feeling outmaneuvered and unsure how to respond.
With a smug smile, Newsom questioned whether the other candidates even realize that they have no chance of changing the trajectory of the GOP primary before the first contests in Iowa and New Hampshire. It’s clear to him that either these candidates go after the frontrunner and set themselves apart or they’re simply wasting everyone’s time. It’s hard to argue with that logic.
Governor Newsom may have decided against entering the Democratic primary against President Biden, but that doesn’t mean he won’t continue to play a role in the upcoming election. He plans to debate Trump’s leading rival, Ron DeSantis, on Fox News in November. It’s another opportunity for Newsom to shine and make himself a prominent figure in the fight against Trump.
As for President Trump, he hasn’t shared his thoughts on the debate just yet. But his team has been doing a great job of helping the candidates on stage dig their own graves. They’ve been posting clips of DeSantis defending Trump’s border wall, poking fun at Chris Christie’s weight, and even sharing a poll showing that Trump won the debate without even appearing. It seems like Trump’s presence loomed large over the debate, even if he wasn’t physically there.
Overall, it’s clear that Trump remains the dominant force in the Republican party. The other candidates have a steep hill to climb if they want to catch up. Governor Newsom may be a troll, but he’s not wrong when he says that these candidates need to do something to distinguish themselves or risk being irrelevant. It’s going to be an interesting race to watch, that’s for sure.
