California Gov. Gavin Newsom may be the Democratic Party's strongest choice to run for president if President Joe Biden bows out, longtime party strategist David Axelrod says.

Axelrod, who served as former President Barack Obama's chief strategist, made the comments in a Wednesday statement to The New York Times. The 2024 presidential race has been a burning question for Democrats, with no clear heir to Biden and many party members skeptical of whether the president could or should run for a second term.

"If the president were not to run, it’s hard to imagine that Newsom would not be sorely tempted to enter the race," Axelrod said Wednesday.

"Newsom is young and politically muscular, which may be just what the market will be seeking post-Biden," he added.