one. >> why now? >> just in light of what's happening in texas and in light of what's happening to our state. >> reporter: but larry elder says the democrats' focus on national issues is newsom avoiding state problems. >> as you know, they are scared to death, which is why all these politicians from outside california are now weighing in, including joe biden, kamala harris, nancy pelosi, senator elizabeth warren. >> reporter: we should point out that the vice president did echo a lot of the national themes that the newsom campaign has focused on. and the governor, in fact, joked about the vice president being here, jake, saying that he would keep his remarks brief because he knew who the crowd was here to really see. >> let's bring in dana bash.