While California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) was campaigning for President Joe Biden in Pennsylvania, a reporter approached him about his own presidential prospects.

“If it comes to an open convention, will you run?” the reporter asked.

“No, I mean it’s not even…” Newsome began, before the reporter interjected, “Absolutely not?”

“That’s not even, it’s to me, it’s the hypothetical that gets in the way of progress in terms of promoting this candidacy,” he said.

“That’s a legit question, but it’s exactly where the other party wants us to be is having this internal fight,” the governor added. “And I think it’s extraordinarily unhelpful. Said that literally the second after the debate. It was my first public comment. So I’ve been consistent in this belief, not just privately, but publicly.”

Newsom’s statement echoes his earlier comments, in which he declared he would “never” turn against Biden.

“I would never turn my back on President Biden. Never turn my back on President Biden. I don’t know a Democrat in my party that would do so. And especially after tonight, we have his back,” he said following Biden’s debate with Donald Trump. “We run, not the 90-yard dash. We are all in. We’re going to double down in the next few months. We’re going to win this election.”

“I care about the substance. I care about the substance,” Newsom declared, adding, “I spent a lot of time with him. I know Joe Biden, I know what he’s accomplished in the last three and a half years. I know what he’s capable of. And I have no trepidations.”