California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he wants Nikki Haley to stay in the 2024 presidential primary race because she is essentially a 'surrogate' for Democrats.

After an embarrassing defeat to Donald Trump in her home state primary in South Carolina on Saturday, former U.N. Amb. Haley said she is sticking to her word and staying in the race through Super Tuesday.

Newsom said there's no shot Haley can win the Republican nomination against Trump after the former president swept all four early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

He said it's 'beyond me' why Haley wants to stay in the race, but is OK with it because it helps Democrats for a fellow Republican to point out Trump's downfalls.

'She's making points I'm applauding every single day about his temperament, his capacity, his unraveling in real time,' Newsom told NBC Meet the Press host Kristen Welker on Sunday.

He added: 'And so I think she's been incredibly effective, so I hope she stays in, personally.'

Republicans theorize that Democrats are planning to run Newsom on the 2024 primary ticket instead of President Joe Biden.

Newsom insists that he has no plans to make a bid for the White House this cycle – but Republicans aren't convinced that he won't step in at the Democrat's nominating convention over the summer.

He told NBC during his Sunday interview that any calls for him to jump in the race are just 'idle chatter' and a 'sideshow.'

'It's not even an interesting conversation,' he added, saying that he '100%' rules out the possibility.