OAKLAND — California Gov. Gavin Newsom may pull out of a prime-time speaking slot at the Democratic National Convention as he responds to the burgeoning wildfire crisis forcing evacuations around the nation's most populous state.
With fires spreading rapidly due to lightning from the same weather system that forced rolling electricity blackouts over the weekend, Newsom is "evaluating options" for Thursday night "while prioritizing the emergency response," political adviser Dan Newman said in an email.
"The originally planned segment didn't make sense given the growth and severity of the fires," Newman said.
The high-profile speaking gig was billed as a lead-in to the convention culmination of former Vice President Joe Biden formally accepting his party's nomination for president. It offered Newsom another chance to introduce himself to a national audience, and the governor was among several top party figures promoted in ads for the DNC's fourth and final night.
The California Democrat is widely seen as having presidential ambitions, although Sen. Kamala Harris' running-mate selection complicates that path.
Embracing the speaking opportunity could open Newsom to accusations that he is more focused on political matters than on leading his state's emergency response. It is also possible that Newsom's original message was somehow made outdated by the sudden calamities facing his state.