For most Americans, there is a fairly clear picture in their heads about what the 2024 election is going to look like.
On the right, there will be Donald Trump, the former President who never really left the campaign trail, and who has elicited countless clues about his future political plans while not exactly saying the magic words just yet.
For the Democrats, it’s likely to be Joe Biden…again. The incumbent President has stated on several occasions that he plans to run again, although he has softened that stance just a bit over the last few days.
But what if we’re all wrong? What if two other candidates rise through their respective ranks to shock the world?
It looks like California Governor Gavin Newsom is banking on it.
While California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been somewhat reluctant to discuss debating the man running against him this fall, he offered a detailed proposal for a debate with a different politician 2,500 miles away.
“Hey @GovRonDeSantis,” wrote Newsom on Friday afternoon on Twitter, “clearly you’re struggling, distracted, and busy playing politics with people’s lives. Since you have only one overriding need — attention — let’s take this up & debate.”
The Golden State Governor was persistent, albeit a little catty.
Newsom also tagged @CNN, apparently as a proposed host for the debate.
He also responded to DeSantis’ “hair gel” quip about him earlier in the day — “I think his hair gel is interfering with his brain function” — with “I’ll bring my hair gel. You bring your hairspray. Name the time before Election Day.”
Newsom has been quite open about his DeSantis obsession, having spent an untold amount of money to air anti-DeSantis ads on television in Florida, despite the two lawmakers having exactly zero reason to be aimed at one another.
This has led a number of political experts to suggest that Newsom sees himself tangling with DeSantis in a national race in 2024.
