Gavin Newsom gained support from South Carolina's political leaders during a recent tour. However, Democrats express concerns about his viability in swing states due to his California background. Analysts note that authenticity is crucial for voters, and Newsom may not resonate with them. In battleground states, where recent elections favored Trump, some strategists emphasize the need for Democratic candidates to connect on economic issues. This suggests that Newsom's liberal policies might struggle to appeal to moderate and rural constituents, who are pivotal in those regions.
"The thing that the electorate wants right now is authenticity, not necessarily agreement, and that's what Gavin Newsom is missing," said Fred Hicks, an Atlanta-based Democratic strategist. "He does not feel authentic."
Clyburn's praise, however, didn't quell questions about Newsom's so-called 'California problem.' In swing states where only a few Democrats have mastered making inroads in small, right-leaning, rural communities, a West Coast background could put Newsom at a disadvantage."
"It's just that [Newsom is] a big blue state governor, and you're going to have to make the case to voters in the middle as to why they should give him a chance," Doug Wilson, a North Carolina Democratic strategist, told NOTUS.
Post-mortems and the handful of Democratic successes since the presidential election have suggested that the Democrat best-suited to remake inroads across the country is one who speaks to affordability and other economic issues.
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