PAC spending reveals Newsom’s presidential ambitions.

California Governor Gavin ⁤Newsom’s Ambitious Political ‍Moves

In March, California governor ⁣Gavin Newsom launched a PAC with the aim of challenging “authoritarian leaders” in⁤ red states and advocating for a constitutional ‍gun control amendment. In⁤ a launch video, ‌Newsom expressed his​ intention to invest in⁣ people and organizations fighting against these strongmen in these states.

However, the PAC’s ⁢spending​ patterns tell a different story.

Since its inception,⁢ Newsom’s Campaign for Democracy PAC has raised $3.8 million, according to FEC records. Surprisingly, very ⁤little of ⁤that money has been used to support political groups fighting against politicians like Florida governor Ron DeSantis or to push ⁤for ​a constitutional amendment ⁤on⁤ gun control. Instead, Newsom has spent millions on Democratic strategists, nationwide ad campaigns, and photo-op visits to red states, all aimed at enhancing his image and political profile.

Political‌ observers believe that Newsom’s spending spree is indicative of his ambitions to run for president ‌if President Joe Biden⁣ chooses not to seek reelection.​ “It’s⁢ obvious that his ‘Campaign for Democracy’ is really just a ‘Campaign ⁤for Gavin Newsom,'” said Michael Ahrens, former communications director for the Republican National ⁤Committee. “This is the kind of operation you set ⁢up ​when ⁢you want⁣ to run for president, and he would absolutely jump in the race if the opportunity presented⁢ itself.”

The Campaign for Democracy has allocated $2.12 million to Aisle 518 Strategies, a ⁤progressive firm that has also worked with​ former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders and failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate​ Stacey Abrams. Additionally, around ‌$181,000 has been spent on the Democratic advertising firm that Newsom used during his gubernatorial campaign, ⁤and approximately $60,000 has gone towards fundraising events and consulting. Meanwhile, Newsom has spent about $42,000 on visits to red‌ states with his family and staff, and has made direct contributions of just under $11,000 to ‍red-state Democrats.

These⁢ national fundraising and spending figures come at a⁢ time when President Biden’s approval ratings have hit an all-time low of 35 percent,⁢ and some Democrats are quietly discussing potential ​replacements, despite publicly presenting a united front, as reported by CNN in July. According to a‌ recent CNN poll, 75 percent of Democratic voters do not want Biden to run again. As⁤ Newsom is term-limited ‌as governor of California, he has transferred $11.6 million from‍ his gubernatorial campaign to the Campaign for Democracy. In another effort to position himself as a ⁢viable alternative to ⁤Biden and boost his profile, Newsom has ​challenged DeSantis to a‌ debate ⁤moderated by Sean Hannity on Fox ​News, scheduled for November.

Initially, ⁢the Campaign for Democracy ran social media ads pitting Newsom against DeSantis and former President Donald Trump, who were the leading contenders in the⁣ Republican primary.⁢ These ads ‌were posted on Newsom’s gubernatorial campaign account‌ on Facebook.

Since then, the campaign ads have criticized Republicans, called for grassroots support​ for a‌ gun ​control ⁤amendment, and‍ highlighted Newsom’s appearance on Fox News with conservative host Sean Hannity in June.

Newsom has ‍spent over $40,000 on plane tickets and hotels for whirlwind tours of red states, including Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas. ⁣During these visits, ⁤he has posted photos from civil rights sites‌ and ⁣criticized conservative policies. In April, he even sat down for an ⁣MSNBC interview with Biden’s former White House press‌ secretary Jen⁤ Psaki in Alabama.

The records of the⁤ PAC show that Newsom ⁣has also made⁤ contributions of $10,000 to Arkansas Democrats and $744 to Colin Allred, the Democratic⁢ challenger to Texas Republican senator Ted Cruz.

According to Bill Whalen, a research fellow at the‍ conservative Hoover Institution, the campaign’s setup seems more focused on grabbing headlines and boosting Newsom’s national image rather than actually⁣ helping Democrats in red states or achieving the stated mission of passing a constitutional amendment. “It’s one thing to say you want to get involved in red state politics, and then a whole other thing to go⁤ to the red state and put the resources in to try to make a⁣ difference,” Whalen‍ said. “By doing these symbolic gestures⁢ like going to red states to talk about civil rights and‍ gun control, it gives him the appearance ‍of Daniel in the Lion’s Den even though he’s not going anywhere near the lions.”