President Joe Biden praised his potential running mate for California Gov. Gavin Newsom at the APEC summit on Wednesday – praising his skills and saying he has what it takes to do his own job.
“I want to thank him. “He was a great governor, man,” Biden told assembled Asia-Pacific leaders after Newsom warmed up the crowd with lively and flowing remarks praising his state’s diversity.
“In fact, he can be anything he wants — he could have the job I’m looking for,” Biden said during his own re-election campaign.
Newsom has become a top surrogate for Biden’s campaign, helping him raise an estimated $3 million at a fundraiser Tuesday night in San Francisco.
The president made the remarks on Wednesday at the APEC meeting, where the president hosted a star-studded event that evening, with the 80-year-old taking the stage alongside rocker Gwen Stefani.
California dreams: President Biden praised Governor Gavin Newsom. “In fact, he can be anything he wants – he could have the job I’m looking for,” Biden said at an event welcoming APEC dignitaries
California Governor Gavin Newsom praised his state during the PEC leaders’ welcome reception and spoke about the California “dream.”
The president made the remarks on Wednesday at the APEC meeting, where the president hosted a star-studded event that evening, with the 80-year-old taking the stage alongside rocker Gwen Stefani
Newsom was previously mentioned as a potential Biden challenger, although the campaign now sees him as a valuable asset in conveying the party’s message even as Biden struggles to get his approval ratings above 40 percent.
Biden’s political praise of Newsom came on a day when he said attending Chinese leader Xi Jinping was a “dictator.”
Biden, 80, is pressing ahead with his presidential campaign even as some senior Democratic officials have expressed alarm about his poor performance in national polls and some polls showing him trailing in swing states, narrowly trailing former President Donald Trump , who is facing multiple election-related charges.
Biden has $71 million in his campaign coffers and decades of experience, but some Democrats believe they could do more with a younger standard-bearer who is not as defined. Polls show widespread concerns about his handling of the economy, even as inflation falls and unemployment remains at historic lows.
Newsom showed off some of his acquired skills Wednesday night, looking handsome in his suit and smiling as he warmly welcomed leaders and hailed California as a “dream” and a “coming attraction.”
His remarks came just before Vice President Harris also warmed up the crowd by smiling and presenting her own political resume, which included stints as San Francisco district attorney and the state’s attorney general.
Vice President Kamala Harris also spoke at the APEC event
President Joe Biden greets California Gov. Gavin Newsom, center, and his wife Jennifer, San Francisco London Breed, and Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-Calif., at the front, as he arrives at San Francisco International Airport for the APEC summit. Newsom has emerged as a top campaign surrogate for the 80-year-old Biden
California Governor Gavin Newsom and his wife Jennifer wait to greet President Joe Biden at San Francisco International Airport. Newsom will host a fundraiser for Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday evening
Ready for prime time? Newsom held his own bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the APEC summit in his home state
She pointed to four trips abroad to Asia as vice president of a conference to strengthen relations in the Indo-Pacific.
“As vice president, I have traveled to the countries of the Indo-Pacific at least four times in recent years, visiting American sailors stationed in Japan and American soldiers in the Korean DMZ,” Harris said.
“And I have spent time here today with many world leaders at bilateral meetings and multilateral summits, including at APEC, where I represented the United States in Bangkok last year,” she said at an event where Newsom held his own bilateral victory achieved meeting with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Biden’s comments came after he held high-level meetings with China’s leader Xi Jinping, where he touched on sensitive issues from Taiwan to the Middle East.
It came on the second day of a trip that included a warm greeting from Newsom on the tarmac at San Francisco International Airport.
President Joe Biden shakes hands after Golden State Warriors head basketball coach Steve Kerr introduced him at a welcoming reception for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative executives at the Exploratorium in San Francisco
Leaders in attendance were also treated to a performance by Stefani, who serenaded them with “Don’t Speak” and “Hollaback Girl.”
Biden claps at a reception for world leaders attending the APEC conference
Biden, Harris, First Lady Jill Biden and First Gentleman Douglas Emhoff look on during the APEC conference on November 15
At the evening event, Biden was introduced by Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, one of several prominent California athletes who took part in a video with San Francisco Mayor London Breed.
Leaders in attendance were also treated to a performance by Stefani, who serenaded them with “Don’t Speak” and “Hollaback Girl.”
Later, after the entertainment extravaganza was over, Biden made a strong reference to his vice president following First Lady Jill Biden’s speech.
“I’m Jill’s husband, Joe Biden, and I work for the vice president.” That was one heck of a show. Not true?’ said the President.