Republican debate: Gavin Newsom slams DeSantis and declares Biden the winner

SIMI VALLEY, California — Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) trashed Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), a top Republican critic of his, and defended President Joe Biden in the spin room moments before the second Republican primary debate started Wednesday night.

When asked who would be the winners of the debate, Newsom responded with two candidates who won’t be at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library where the debate is taking place.

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“Look, clearly Joe Biden walks away with this debate and then Donald Trump,” Newsom said. “I mean, it’s just the JV team. These guys are maybe running for vice president. I said it because I’m a big NFL fan. This is the XFL.”

Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

The former president is skipping the second GOP debate opting instead to speak to striking United Auto Workers in Michigan. Former President Donald Trump’s address follows Biden’s decision to join the picket line with UAW members on Tuesday.

The California governor will face off against DeSantis in their own debate on Nov. 30 in Georgia. Fox News’s Sean Hannity will host the 90-minute debate.

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During his pre-debate spin room appearance, Newsom once again slammed DeSantis.

“I don’t know why he’s debating a governor of California. I mean, again, that is so disqualifying on his behalf,” Newsom said about DeSantis’s decision to debate with him. “He put out an ad today, not about his debate for president [but] an ad about debating me. This guy is so off the ball that it really makes you wonder.”