Watch: Newsom Accidentally Drops Racist Bomb - Look on the Atlanta Mayor's Face Is Priceless Before He Remembered He Has to Be Nice

As speculation intensifies over the 2028 Democratic primary, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is already finding himself compared to a political figure many Democrats would prefer to move past: Joe Biden.

The comparison is not about ideology, but about rhetoric — specifically, the kind of unforced verbal missteps that tend to linger far longer than campaign strategists would like.

Biden, during his decades in public life, developed a reputation for off-the-cuff remarks that frequently required cleanup. Among the most remembered was his 2020 interview on “The Breakfast Club,” when he told radio host Charlamagne tha God, “if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black.” Years earlier, in 2019, he sparked backlash after declaring, “Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids.”

Those moments, critics argued, revealed a tone-deaf approach to race and class — one that many in the media quickly downplayed once Biden emerged as the Democratic establishment’s consensus candidate.

Now Newsom, widely viewed as an early 2028 frontrunner, is facing scrutiny of his own following remarks delivered during a recent appearance in Atlanta.

Attempting to connect with voters, Newsom said:

“I’m just trying to impress upon you, I’m like you,” Newsom said. “I’m no better than you. You know, I’m a 960 SAT guy. And you know, I’m not trying to offend anyone, you know, trying to act all there if you got 940, but literally a 960 SAT guy.

He continued:

“You’ve never seen me read a speech, because I cannot read a speech,” he continued. “Maybe the wrong business to be in. Uh, you know, my dyslexia — I haven’t overcome dyslexia. I’m living with it.”

The remarks were reportedly delivered alongside Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, and video of the exchange quickly circulated online, drawing mixed reactions.

Newsom has recently spoken publicly about having dyslexia, framing it as a personal challenge he has managed throughout his career. Supporters argue that discussing learning disabilities openly can destigmatize them. Critics counter that presenting academic struggles as a form of political relatability — particularly in front of largely minority audiences — risks echoing the same patronizing tone that plagued Biden in the past.

The political optics are difficult to ignore. Biden’s 2019 “poor kids” remark became a defining example of what opponents described as a subconscious conflation of poverty and race. Newsom’s attempt to present himself as relatable through low test scores has similarly prompted questions about the assumptions underlying such appeals.

Beyond optics, some critics argue that presidential leadership requires clarity, discipline, and command of detail — particularly in matters of national security and economic policy. They contend that self-deprecating claims about an inability to read speeches, even if hyperbolic, may undermine confidence in executive readiness.

At the same time, others view the backlash as overblown political sniping in the early stages of what is certain to be a bruising Democratic primary.

History suggests that how long this controversy lingers may depend less on the remark itself and more on the political landscape that follows. During the 2020 Democratic primaries, Biden’s verbal missteps generated headlines — until party leadership coalesced around him as the perceived safest alternative to President Donald J. Trump. At that point, many controversies faded from prominence.

If Newsom consolidates establishment support in 2028, today’s remarks may be dismissed as minor stumbles. If he falters, they could become emblematic of a broader narrative about tone and authenticity.

For now, the episode underscores a reality both parties understand well: in presidential politics, every word is amplified — and relatability can quickly morph into liability.