https://www.wsj.com/articles/gavin-newsoms-presidential-campaign-has-begun-ron-desantis-2024-crime-education-business-environment-energy-11657118708?mod=opinion_lead_pos6
San Clemente, Calif.
Emboldened by his victory in last year’s recall election and looking toward an easy November re-election, California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his presidential ambitions over the Fourth of July weekend. He challenged potential opponent Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis with a television commercial in the Sunshine State.
Stuffing too many images into too little space, Mr. Newsom called on Floridians to flee to California, “where we still believe in freedom: freedom of speech, freedom to choose, freedom from hate and the freedom to love.” Mr. Newsom followed with a CNN interview trash-talking Mr. DeSantis and summoning Democrats to “take the fight to them.”
Hubris is a common disease for those coming from states where the media are uncritical and political success is attained without duress. The strains of “Hail to the Chief” are enticing while staff in the governor’s corner office prod: “Boss, this is your time.”
Mr. DeSantis and the other potential 2024 Republican candidates couldn’t be happier to welcome Mr. Newsom into the mix. Putting a magnifying glass on Mr. Newsom’s inept management of what was once the jewel of the Pacific will be a joy to the campaign consultants and political action committee managers waiting to chew up another California lightweight—as they did to Kamala Harris in 2020.
Once Mr. Newsom takes his show on the road, he’ll quickly find the scrutiny that has escaped him in California. His slicked-back act won’t play in Iowa cornfields, New Hampshire snows or South Carolina towns. It is politically perverse that Mr. Newsom’s ad asks Floridians to come to California when his own constituents are leaving for friendlier business and cultural climates in Florida, Texas, Arizona and elsewhere.