In a phone interview with POLITICO Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom — who took office in January and has endorsed Harris in the 2020 race — noted that the entry of former Vice President Joe Biden creates more competition for the nearly 500 delegates that will be up for grabs in the 2020 primary. | AP Photo/Richard Vogel Newsom touts Harris, but says Buttigieg is 'many people’s second choice'

SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom said home-state senator Kamala Harris is outperforming her 2020 rivals across the board — but told POLITICO that Pete Buttigieg “tends to be many people’s second choice — if he’s not already a first."

It’s more evidence that the South Bend, Indiana mayor's campaign is playing hard in heavily Democratic California, which will play a bigger role than usual in choosing the party’s nominee thanks to an early March 3 primary. More immediately, at least 14 Democratic 2020 contenders are currently slated to attend California’s Democratic convention from May 31 to June 2.


In a phone interview with POLITICO Thursday, Newsom — who took office in January and has endorsed Harris in the 2020 race — noted that the entry of former Vice President Joe Biden creates more competition for the nearly 500 delegates that will be up for grabs in the 2020 primary.

Biden, he said is “formidable beyond words, profoundly respected, deeply loved by a good core of the Democratic party,” and “obviously has a foreign policy portfolio and resume that is difficult for others to compete with.’’

But, Newsom warned, “he’s going to have to compete [in California] because there are obviously a lot of other candidates that excel in other ways.” Though Biden “started off quite well,’’ Newsom said, “I don’t see him walking into this’’ with an easy win in the nation’s most populous state.

Newsom also strongly defended Harris, a former state attorney general, saying that her campaign has been “outperforming” rivals across the board. Asked about a New York Times report suggesting Harris’ campaign has attempted a “reset,’’ Newsom said he strongly disagreed, arguing that Harris has been “in top two-tier status from the day she announced. ... Compare that quite literally to 20 other candidates.’’

But Newsom said Buttigieg's campaign reached out to him Thursday, and that he’s “enthusiastically” anticipating a chance to speak to the candidate.

“Literally today, someone [with the campaign] asked if they could give him my number — and I was very humbled by that. And of course, I enthusiastically said yes,’’ Newsom told POLITICO. “I just read his book and it’s quite good. It’s fascinating how many people are supporting him, as they’re supporting someone else. He tends to be many people’s second choice — if he’s not already a first,’’ he said.

Newsom is scheduled to star at a San Francisco fundraiser with Harris later this month hosted by Ann and Gordon Getty, according to invites that have gone out.

Newsom said he wasn’t worried that the wide-ranging field of Democratic candidates were tacking too far to the left.

“No, they’ve not. They’re debating. ... The parameters have expanded — and that’s a healthy thing,’’ he said. “There’s an ample number of candidates that offers an completely different path and vision on, for example, health care and Medicare for all. … There’s broad strokes and commitment to universal access, and that’s important.”