ANALYSIS: California Gov. Gavin Newsom would probably never have faced a recall election had it not been for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But on Tuesday, he did more than survive. Newsom used a powerful pair of somewhat related fears -- of pandemic backsliding, and one of a potential win for Trumpism -- toNewsom framed the recall less as an up-or-down vote on him and more about who could replace him: a far-right Republican, with all that that means, so long as former President Donald Trump is dominant in the GOP.
Newsom and his fellow Democrats leaned in on COVID leadership and the need to take restrictions seriously. They also painted the leading Republican candidate in the race, Larry Elder, as what President Joe Biden called a"Trump clone" who would roll back pandemic mandates and halt progressive advances if given the chance.
Some 63% said they see getting vaccinated as more of a public health responsibility than a personal choice -- a broad endorsement of the Newsom-Biden point of view. And 70% support the state's mandate that students wear masks in schools, which Newsom championed and his leading opponents promised to repeal.
A recall miss is embarrassing -- just ask Democrats in Wisconsin -- though few key midterm races will feature electorates as deep blue as the Golden State's.For all that, Republicans consolidated behind Elder, a conservative talk-show host with no previous political experience, with relative ease.
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