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Analysis: Making sense of Newsom’s anti-DeSantis ad

by mcardinal

Willie R. Tubbs, FISM News

 

With so many Californians already moving to Florida, California Gov. Gavin Newsom must think he is on the ballot in the Sunshine State, too. This week, for reasons not entirely clear, Newsom released an attack ad against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“We’re about to celebrate Independence Day — but Freedom is under attack by Republican leaders in states like Florida,” Newsom tweeted Sunday. “Banning books. Restricting speech. Making it harder to vote. Criminalizing women and doctors. It’s time to stand up. Don’t let them take your freedom.”

In keeping with the tradition of political ads, Newsom’s remarks lack context and every issue is framed in the most obtuse way possible. But the governor breaks from tradition in the fact that the ad exists at all.

At first blush, it is hard to imagine what Newsom plans to garner, other than media attention, with this offering.

He is the prohibitive favorite to be reelected in California, and the two governors are not required to cooperate or even exist in harmony, really ever. So why does Gavin Newsom suddenly care so much and so specifically about Ron DeSantis?

The least likely rationale is that Newsom really does hope to stem the tide of so many citizens and businesses unburdening themselves of California and seeking respite in Republican strongholds. His state’s economy remains strong and the population heavily liberal.

Perhaps Newsom believes he can upset DeSantis’s reelection campaign, but it would be a historically strange occurrence if large numbers of Floridians changed their political allegiance or vote based on the word of the governor of California.

A jaded pessimist might view Newsom’s move as an effort to fundraise off of California liberals’ fear of DeSantis. Give Gavin money or the boogeyman from the Free State of Florida will get you.

For his part, DeSantis has ignored Newsom in full. Maybe the Floridian has a better appreciation for how state elections work than does Newsom. More likely, DeSantis neither cares about nor fears Newsom’s criticisms.

The only public comment DeSantis has made since the release of the attack ad was a patriotic statement about the Fourth of July.

A quick scan through the rest of DeSantis’ Twitter account shows plenty of recent activity, but no mention of Newsom.

As likely as not, Newsom’s efforts are little more than a move meant to benefit the team, and not Team Newsom. He and Team Democrat 2024 know that DeSantis is gathering steam on the national stage and could be the next Republican nominee for president.

Last month, FISM reported DeSantis was beginning to outpace even former-President Trump in at least one poll.

In just the last week, DeSantis has boasted of having allocated billions to water restoration and worked with the Florida judiciary to investigate human trafficking, topics one would think carry positive weight with all sane or even mostly sane people. DeSantis also recently applauded Unilever for forcing Ben and Jerry’s to sell its products in Israel again, another move that anyone who is in favor of inclusivity would have to support.

DeSantis also recently bragged of improved civics literacy in his state, which would seem to be self-defeating if DeSantis truly wanted to deprive citizens of their Constitutionally protected freedoms.

Democrats have long hated Donald Trump and have targeted him for political destruction. Whether or not that effort pays off, leftists know they have a new challenger with whom to contend. Think of Newsom’s ad as the first attempt to loosen the foundation upon which DeSantis has built his political career.

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