What is shadow campaign? Bill Maher accuses Gavin Newsom and Gretchen Whitmer of alleged move against Joe Biden
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The term "shadow campaigns" refers to efforts by political figures to influence elections through undisclosed or difficult-to-trace spending, often associated with dark money.
In a recent episode of HBO's 'Real Time,' host Bill Maher accused Gavin Newsom and Gretchen Whitmer of running what he called "shadow campaigns" against Joe Biden, while applauding Rep Dean Phillips, D-Minn, for openly launching a primary challenge against the sitting president.
There has been a significant rise in outside special interest groups' spending on political campaigns in the United States, particularly following the Citizens United v FEC verdict in January 2010.
This trend of dark money leaves voters uninformed and can obscure potential conflicts of interest for judges and legislators.
Comparing Dean Phillips to Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer
While Maher expressed his admiration for Dean Phillips' entry into the Democratic primary, he noted that it wasn't necessarily an endorsement.
“I endorsed the idea,” Maher told Phillips on Friday, November 3, “because I did an editorial a couple weeks ago calling [Biden] Ruth Bader Biden. And look, we both struggle with the same thing. We like Joe Biden, right? And we think he’s done a good job. Ruth Bader Ginsburg did a good job and did not know when to quit, and that’s why you’re here.”
“And it’s not like others are doing this in a — sort of a — shadow campaign,” Maher continued. “I mean, Gavin Newsom, our governor, seems to be all over the world.”
“I saw that,” Phillips acknowledged.
“You know, they’re going to the battleground states in the private — they’re really doing it, but I feel like at least you are honest, and you’re saying, ‘No, I’m gonna do it.’ Just do it," Maher asserted.
Dean Phillips, who has actively encouraged other Democrats to join the primary, highlighted how straightforward it is to become a presidential candidate in the United States – a $1,000 check and US citizenship at 35 years of age.
He shared his unsuccessful attempt to recruit Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, whom he believed would make an "outstanding president."
“And she’s one of those who’s running a shadow campaign,” Maher interjected, as quoted by the New York Post.
Challenges of waiting for 2028
Phillips expressed his concerns about waiting until 2028, suggesting that the 2024 election may not proceed as expected if President Biden faces Donald Trump again, citing concerning polling numbers.
“Everybody’s waiting until 2028,” Phillips said. “And I’m making the contention to all of you tonight that I’m not sure that we will have a 2028 election in the way that we expect to happen if the inevitable happens and it is President Biden against Donald Trump."
"I mean, the numbers are astounding everybody. If we don’t start to acknowledge that — there’s this bizarre and very dangerous culture of silence in Washington, in certain political-industrial complex circles, that is dangerous — I mean, dangerous. And we’re putting blinders on. It’ll make 2016 look like a joyful year," he predicted.
Maher also offered compliments to Governor Newsom, who he believed needed to "move to the center" to appeal to a broader audience, and Vice President Kamala Harris, but he expressed his doubts about the popularity of both figures, especially Harris.
Phillips reiterated his call for more competition in the Democratic primary, saying, "the more the merrier," to address the challenges faced by the party.
“It’s still not too late to jump into this race. I wish we had more competition instead of coordination. This is not that difficult, and I don’t understand why people are so hesitant to do what the country needs so desperately,” he said.
“I called candidates who I say are more proximate to the race. They wouldn’t take my call. They had their political people take the call. They asked me not to use their names. You know, when I say most of my colleagues talk about this every day in hushed tones in the hallways, it’s saying the quiet part out loud," Phillips added.
Bill Maher's doubts about President Biden
Bill Maher, who was previously a defender of President Biden, began expressing doubts about the president's chances in the 2024 election.
“I think we’re on the same page with Biden,” Maher told Democratic strategist James Carville. “Did a great service, but whereas in 2020, maybe he was the only one who could have beaten Trump, I think now he’s the only one who will lose to him.”
“He did great not just because he beat Trump, but, you know, a lot of stuff he did — Afghanistan, Ukraine he handled right, everybody else’s economy was worse than ours after the pandemic. These are some pretty big things,” he continued. “But he will lose because at some point, perception becomes reality."
"And look, do I think he can do the job? Absolutely. Government, as you well know better than anybody, is done in small rooms like the Oval Office, where people are talking quietly and decisions are made. I think he still can do that fine. He cannot run for president. He’ll look bad in the debates… I think, going to lose," Maher concluded.