Watching the Fox News Sean Hannity Show debate tonight between 45-year-old Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and 56-year-old Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom, voters start to get an idea of a Plan B if 81-year-old President Joe Biden decides to call it quits. Much depends on who wins the GOP nomination with the next RNC debate happening on NewsNation Dec. 6 in Tuscaloosa, Al. When it comes to what Democrats would do if Biden drops out, Hannity seems ahead of the curve bringing on Newsom to debate DeSantis who currently runs a 13.6%, compared to former President Donald Trump at a 62%, Trump’s the overwhelming favorite to win the GOP nomination, with GOP primary voters making a bold statement against the government’s criminal cases against Trump. GOP voters see the legal cases against Trump as an illegal partisan witch hunt.
Parading Newsom and DeSantis, polar opposites on the political spectrum, on the same stage should make compelling reality TV tonight when a broad audience turns into the spectacle on Fox News. Only Hannity could pull it off, much to the delight of his nationwide audience, the envy of the broadcast news industry. Letting Hannity mediate the debate seems unfair to Newsom because of Hannity and DeSantis’ obvious fidelity to major conservative issues. Yet Hannity has already had Newsom on his show, pressing him on all major issues confronting California and the nation. Hannity liked the way Newsom handled his pressing questions, repeating his Democrat talking points with poise and aplomb. Hannity didn’t know what to expect in their first encounter but came away amused, actually liking Newsom many unexpected ways.
Democrats see firsthand tonight on Hannity’s show a real Plan B, if Biden decides to call it a day. Biden seems poised to take on Trump for a second time but has great uncertainty about taking on a younger candidate like DeSatis. DeSantis needs a jolt to jumpstart his fizzling campaign, lacking the energy or media attention of former U.S. Amb. Nikki Haley. Haely has shown the first three GOP debates that she’s ready for primetime, something DeSantis hasn’t shown yet. Performing well tonight on Hannity’s show would give Newsom as shot-in-the-arm heading into the RNC’s next debate Dec. 6 debate in Tuscaloosa. DeSantis needs to show a national audience that he can handle the pressure, that he’s ready for primetime. Hannity should give DeSantis a real advantage in tonight’s debate, knowing they both think alike on all major campaign issues.
When former Obama chief strategist David Axelrod asked on Twitter whether Biden would reconsider for the good of the Party and country running for president, it raised Plan B for Democrats. Axelrod’s remarks prompted 59-year-old Vice President Kamala Harris to respond forcefully that she was ready, if needed, to step in. But Harris has worse problems that Biden with her 36% approval ratings. So, Hannity noticed something curious about Newsom who denies that he’s putting himself out there, but, at the same time, catching the attention of Biden and other Democrat big wigs. Newsom says he’s a Biden surrogate, happy to support the president’s reelection. But if for some reason Biden decides to drop out, Newsom, not Harris, would be the prohibitive favorite to represent the Democrat Party. Harris says she’s ready but Democrat voters say they don’t agree.
Hannity has the instincts to know that Newsom has president written all over him. DeSantis would only hope to have that aura but so far it’s eluded him as he makes his case for the GOP nomination. Running so far behind Trump, DeSantis and other GOP candidates, can only hope that Trump gets caught in a sticky wicket. If that doesn’t happen, DeSantis is probably toast for the 2024 nomination. Haley doesn’t show much better chance, even though she’s outperformed other GOP candidates so far. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie acts like he’s front-runner, put on all Democrat-controlled TV talk shows, but actually polls nationally at 2.2%, showing his snarky campaign against Trump has backfired. With Newsom in the headlines, Democrats have a much better Plan B than Republicans, who wouldn’t know where to turn if Trump calls it quits.
DeSantis and Newsom should make good headlines on Hannity’s show tonight, hopefully giving DeSantis a chance to redeem himself to a national conservative audience. Newsom should show a national audience that he’s Plan B for Democrats if, for some reason, Biden decides to hang it up. If Trump loses the GOP nomination, which doesn’t seem likely, DeSantis has a shot to rise to the top of the ticket, proving for all Republicans to see, he’s ready for primetime. If Newsom says calm and delivers his liberal talking points, Democrats will be comfortable with him as Biden’s heir apparent. Harris doesn’t come into the picture except for a tiny fraction of the Democrat Party. Hannity gives Newsom and DeSantis the best chance to make their case to the American people. Democrats know Newsom isn’t running yet but he definitely there just in case.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
