The Democratic Party’s 2028 soap opera may still be in its early episodes, but the claws are already out.
With speculation growing around who will inherit a party still struggling to escape the long shadow of the Biden years, two familiar California politicians continue to dominate the chatter: Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris. According to recent reporting, the pair have increasingly been viewed as potential rivals for the Democratic nomination, setting up what could become one of the nastiest intraparty battles in years.
That looming showdown became fodder for a fiery discussion on Fox News’ “The Five,” where co-host Jesse Watters delivered a blunt assessment of how Newsom should handle a possible challenge from Harris.
Appearing during a segment focused on the emerging rivalry, Watters argued that Newsom would gain nothing by handling Harris delicately.
“You gotta stop pussyfooting around when you’re dealing with Harris,” Watters said. “This is a fight. You gotta take the gloves off. If he starts dancing around ’cause he doesn’t wanna offend blacks or women, that’s not gonna cut it. The media’s already gonna say you’re mansplaining and you’re being mean. You gotta slit her throat and then just watch her die. She can’t perform. Put her out of her misery. You see, she can’t cut it. She had a shot. She’s from the past. We can’t do the Biden era anymore.”
The comments were clearly directed at Harris’s political future rather than physical harm, and they underscored just how little confidence many critics have in her prospects after years of mixed public approval ratings and failed attempts to establish herself as the undisputed future of the Democratic Party.
For conservatives, Harris remains one of the clearest examples of political promotion outrunning political performance. Despite serving as vice president and previously holding some of the nation’s most prominent elected offices, she has continued to face questions about her effectiveness as a communicator and national candidate. Even many Democrats have privately expressed concerns about her ability to energize voters in a general election.
Meanwhile, Newsom has spent years positioning himself as a polished national figure, frequently sparring with Republican governors and conservative media while attempting to present California’s progressive agenda as a model for the country. Whether Democratic primary voters ultimately embrace that pitch is another matter entirely.
The discussion later shifted to Hunter Biden, where Watters offered a surprisingly mixed review.
“As far as Hunter is concerned, I kind of agree with Greg. I wouldn’t call him presidential timber, but I like him. He’s in a little bit of a redemption arc. But just because he did drugs and now doesn’t do drugs doesn’t excuse the fact that he’s a jerk, okay? It doesn’t make you, like, get to wipe out 20 years of being a jerk, okay? He’s still kind of a jerk, but he’s likeable now. He’s actually pretty witty.”
If the early maneuvering is any indication, Democrats hoping for a smooth 2028 primary may be in for disappointment. The party’s biggest names are already circling the same political territory, and the battle to claim the post-Biden future could become every bit as vicious as Republicans expect.
(Video: Fox News)
