Newsom doubles down on support for Biden in Michigan: ‘I believe in his character’

California Gov. Gavin Newsom remains steadfastly committed to the Biden-Harris 2024 statesmanlike ticket, contempt admitting during an Independence Day Democratic run lawsuit successful Michigan that the statesmanlike statement against erstwhile President Donald Trump "did not spell arsenic well" arsenic Biden had hoped. 

"I was asked and tasked by President Biden, proudly, to alert from California to Georgia to correspond the run close aft that debate," Newsom told a assemblage of supporters astatine the Van Buren Dems BBQ for Biden-Harris successful South Haven, Michigan, connected Thursday. 

"I had a batch of talking points successful mind, you whitethorn person noticed if you saw me, I didn't bring them with me. And that's to marque the evident constituent – things did not spell arsenic good arsenic the run had hoped, and evidently did not spell arsenic good arsenic President Biden had hoped," helium said. 

Newsom – who has vehemently denied claims that he's moving a "shadow campaign" to regenerate Biden – was among the 20 Democratic governors who had a backstage gathering with Biden connected Wednesday nighttime astatine the White House for astir an hr and a half. 

NEWSOM'S PROGRESSIVE ACTIVISM, DEBATE SKILLS AMONG VULNERABILITIES IN POTENTIAL NATIONAL CAMPAIGN: EXPERT

A increasing fig of large wide outlets person urged Biden to bow retired of his re-election bid pursuing his statesmanlike statement past week.  (Biden speaks astatine a rally successful Virginia)

"It could person gone 2 oregon 3 hours," Newsom said of the meeting. "And I mean this with implicit conviction. That was the Joe Biden I retrieve from 2 weeks ago. That was the Joe Biden that I retrieve from 2 years ago. That's the Joe Biden that I'm looking guardant to reelecting arsenic president of the United States."

"Things did not spell arsenic good arsenic the run had hoped, and evidently did not spell arsenic good arsenic President Biden had hoped."

The purpose of the gathering was to enactment up enactment among the party’s apical leaders and stave disconnected diminishing assurance successful Biden’s candidacy.

Among the Democratic governors who were readying to be successful idiosyncratic were Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who leads the Democratic Governors Association, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, among others.

Newsom added he's been "going wherever" he's been asked by the administration, and doing "whatever task, ample and small, due to the fact that I judge successful this man."

DESANTIS VS NEWSOM FACE OFF ON ABORTION, TRANSGENDERISM, WOKENESS AND MORE

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks astatine a quality league successful Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

"I judge successful his character," helium said.

The Golden State politician volition besides beryllium headed to New Hampshire to header a Democrat run lawsuit adjacent week, fueling much speculation that helium whitethorn beryllium preparing to measurement successful if Biden backs retired of the 2024 race. 

New Hampshire is simply a cardinal plaything authorities successful the wide election and Newsom, who is simply a apical surrogate for President Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign, volition besides beryllium campaigning for the president and different Democrats up and down the summons during his halt successful the Granite State, according to sources acquainted with his plans.

FETTERMAN HITS NEWSOM FOR NOT HAVING ‘GUTS’ TO ADMIT HE'S RUNNING SHADOW CAMPAIGN AGAINST BIDEN

Newsom insists helium is not gunning to regenerate Biden. (Getty Images)

After Biden's lackluster show during the statement against Trump, Newsom assured reporters successful the rotation country that helium remained firmly down Biden — who has faced important disapproval adjacent from members of his ain enactment for a lackluster performance.

"I volition ne'er crook my backmost connected President Biden," Newsom said connected Thursday successful a remark that appeared designed to dispel rumors that he's moving a shadiness campaign. "I don't cognize a Democrat successful my enactment that would bash so. And particularly aft tonight, we person his back."

Get the latest updates from the 2024 run trail, exclusive interviews and much astatine our Fox News Digital predetermination hub.

Newsom added: "I spent a batch of clip with him. I cognize Joe Biden. I cognize what he's accomplished successful the past 3 and a fractional years. I cognize what he's susceptible of. And I person nary trepidations."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Leading up to past week's archetypal statesmanlike statement of the 2024 predetermination cycle, Biden's intelligence acuity became the halfway of governmental sermon past period aft a bombshell Washington Journal study – which the White House dismissed – revealed that galore lawmakers connected Capitol Hill had questions astir Biden's intelligence acuity aft galore said his aging was evident successful backstage meetings.

Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser and Bradford Betz contributed to this report.