It has not been determined whether South Carolina will lead off in 2028, but Gavin Newsom recently visited the presidential primary state where the first Democratic primary was held in 2024.
He teamed up with the South Carolina Democratic Party for two days of meetings with voters at cafes, coffee shops, community centers, and churches as part of their effort to bring national Democrats to parts of the Palmetto State that they say have long been overlooked and "left behind" by Republican officials.
His speeches featured criticism of President Trump and his administration's policies and an emphasis on the importance of defending Democratic values, including LGBTQ+ rights and women's access to abortion.
He also attempted to connect with rural voters, acknowledging the political divide between red and blue states and advocating for unity.
But Gary Bauer, chairman of the Campaign for Working Families, does not think the Democrat's agenda was or will be well received in the deep red state.
"His biggest problem will be what he believes and whether or not that can be exposed to the American people," says Bauer. "There's all kinds of issues I could mention – how California has been a gravy train for illegal immigrants – but I think the one that is so obvious is the trans issue. He's way out of step with the public."
He thinks any decent Republican candidate will be able to point that out.
Ahead of his two-day visit, the South Carolina GOP urged its supporters to "show up loud, proud, and decked out in your Trump gear and flags" to show Newsom "what real leadership looks like."
"I ultimately think he cannot be president," Bauer submits. "It probably depends on headlines and events between now and the next presidential election that we couldn't imagine right now, but I know there will be headlines and events that will astonish us, and those events could very well cause another shift in American politics."
"We'll have to wait and see," he adds.
According to a recent poll conducted by Emerson College, Newsom is in third place behind Pete Buttigieg and Kamala Harris.
