Stephen A. Smith: Gov. Wes Moore Would Be ‘an Ideal Candidate’ for Leadership Figure for Democrats

CAIN: “Stephen A., we’ve talked about this. You’ve talked about this. OK, first, let’s just set the stage. There doesn’t seem to be light at the end of the tunnel for that leadership on the left with Democrats, OK? Maybe there are some that believe that Gavin Newsom can be that guy. You know, I don’t happen to think, a recent guest on the Stephen A. Smith Show, Wes Moore, whose appearance with you went much better than his appearance with me last week here on the Will Cain Show, is probably set up for success, in part based upon my interview with Wes Moore. I don’t see it. And by the way, that’s why your name keeps being bandied about. I don’t see it. Do you see light? Do you see a leadership figure on the left for Democrats?”

Smith: “I believe that Wes Moore would be an ideal candidate. I think you’re underestimating him, and more importantly, I don’t think his interview with you should be a litmus test of who he is or what he represents because I think you asked very direct questions and he’s going to give you very direct answers. I think if you got to know him and you got to talk to him, you see him to be a reasonable individual that’s willing to cross the aisle to get things done. I think Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania, I think he’s another individual like that. Those are the two that come to my mind. I wish Andrew Cuomo was gaining more traction so he could prevent Mamdani from winning the mayor seat in New York City because I personally am not a fan of what Mamdani has been proposing. He’s a renowned socialist. He’s unapologetic about it. He’s not my — he’s not the candidate that I would want in New York City. And when I interview him, I’ll tell him to his face. It’s no problem for me, but because I’m not a socialist, I’m a capitalist and I ain’t apologizing for it to anybody, this is America and that’s what I believe in. But having said all of that, I think anybody who is center, whether it’s left or right, willing to cross the aisle to work, to compromise, to acknowledge that somebody might have a better idea than them, I’m going to listen, I’m going to be open-minded and I’m going to do what’s in the best interest of America, is the right candidate for the job. If they’re not about that, we don’t want them, no matter what side of the aisle.”

CAIN: “Ok. Real quickly, let me just say, Wes Moore may be a great guy, I don’t question his character. I don’t question his military service. He’s got to answer for what we talked about.”

Smith: “I’m talking about policy.”

CAIN: “And we got to — he’s got to find an answer for what we talked about last week on why he lied about receiving the Bronze Star.”

Smith: “Sure.”

CAIN: “It’s a big deal. And — but I still honor his service and he’s always welcome to come back here on the Will Cain Show.”