Biden says Gavin Newsom ‘could have the job I’m looking for’ after calling Californian ‘one hell of a governor’ at APEC event featuring his VP Kamala

President Joe Biden gave praise to his potential understudy California Governor Gavin Newsom at the APEC summit on Wednesday, praising his abilities and saying he has what it takes to do his own job.

‘I want to thank him. He’s been a great governor, man,” Biden told the 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 get the job I’m looking for,” Biden said during his own reelection campaign.

Newsom has become a top surrogate for Biden’s campaign, helping him raise an estimated $3 million during a fundraiser in San Francisco on Tuesday evening.

He was previously mentioned as a potential primary challenger to Biden, although the campaign now sees him as a valuable asset in helping deliver the party’s message even as Biden struggles to get his approval ratings above 40 percent.

Biden’s political compliments to Newsom came on a day when he said Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who was in attendance, was a “dictator.”

The 80-year-old Biden is pressing ahead with his presidential campaign even as some top Democratic officials have raised alarms about his poor performance in national polls and some surveys show him in swing states, trailing slightly behind former President Donald Trump, who faces multiple fighters. charges.

Biden has $71 million in his campaign coffers and decades of experience, but some Democrats think they could do better with a younger standard-bearer who is not so defined. Polls show widespread concerns about his handling of the economy, even as inflation falls and unemployment remains at record lows.

Newsom put some of his acquired skills on display Wednesday evening, looking sharp in his suit and smiling as he warmly welcomed the leaders and hailed California as a “dream” and a “coming attraction.”

His comments came shortly before Vice President Harris also warmed up the crowd, smiling and carrying her own political resume, which includes San Francisco district attorneys and state attorney general.

California Governor Gavin Newsom praised his state during the PEC leaders’ welcome reception and spoke of California’s ‘dream’

Vice President Kamala Harris also spoke at the event

President Joe Biden greets California Governor Gavin Newsom, center, and his wife Jennifer, San Francisco London Breed and Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-Calif., front, as he arrives at San Francisco International Airport for the APEC summit. Newsom has become 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 hold 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 during the APEC summit in his home state

President Joe Biden shakes hands after Golden State Warriors head basketball coach Steve Kerr introduced him during a welcome reception for leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, Wednesday, November 15, 2023

She pointed to four foreign trips to Asia as vice president at a conference aimed at strengthening ties in the Indo-Pacific.

“As Vice President, I have traveled to Indian Ocean countries at least four times in recent years. I visited American sailors deployed to Japan and American soldiers at the Korean DMZ,” Harris said.

“And I’ve spent time here today with many of the world’s 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 hosted his own bilateral meeting with Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Biden’s comments came after he held high-stakes meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, touching on charged topics from Taiwan to the Middle East.

It came on the second day of a trip that included a warm welcome from Newsom on the tarmac of San Francisco International Airport.

During the evening event, Biden was introduced by Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, one of several prominent California athletes who participated in a video with San Francisco Mayor London Breed.

Visiting leaders were also treated to a performance by Gwin Stefani, who serenaded them with “Don’t Speak” and “Hollaback Girl.”

Later, after the entertainment extravaganza was over, Biden referred to his vice president after first lady Jill Biden spoke.

“I’m Jill’s husband, Joe Biden, and I work for the vice president. That was a great show. Was not it?’ the president said.