DeSantis Campaign Statement on Upcoming Debate with Gavin Newsom

November 30th has increased significance in light of Democrat effort to replace Biden

Tallahasee, FL - Following last night's victory, DeSantis for President campaign manager James Uthmeier issued a statement on Ron DeSantis' upcoming debate with Gavin Newsom in Georgia on November 30th.

"Ron DeSantis was victorious last night by making clear that he has what it takes to fight and win for the American people as commander-in-chief, but the next debate will be the biggest one yet," said campaign manager James Uthmeier. " As Democrats ramp up their efforts to replace the historically unpopular and failed Joe Biden as their nominee, Ron DeSantis' showdown with Gavin Newsom is even more timely. A Newsom presidency would accelerate America's decline, and November 30th will be the first chance to expose to a national audience just how dangerous his radical ideology would be for the country. Ron DeSantis will take this responsibility seriously and looks forward to sharing the stark contrast between his vision to revive our nation and Newsom's blueprint for failure."

BACKGROUND

When asked about the stakes of his debate with Gavin Newsom, Ron DeSantis said earlier this week:

"I think what California represents, it's kind of the leftist petri dish. So whatever the Democrats have already done in Washington, California is kind of like five years ahead of that. So if you did have a Biden second term, I think you'd get a lot of the same policies. But clearly, if you ended up with a Newsom, they would have policies that would really accelerate the decline of this country, whereas I think Florida represents a model where we can reverse the decline and have an American revival. So yes, there'll be differences that are discussed between the two states. But I think the more important part of the debate is, how does that factor into the nation's future?"

DeSantis' upcoming debate with Newsom will take place as various high-profile Democrats and their allies in the media have in recent days questioned whether Biden should be the Democrat nominee in 2024.

• Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.): I was concerned before these polls, and I'm concerned now.

• Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA): I think it is important to recognize that we have a very divided country, as you well know. You have said that polls really don't reflect where people are. I agree with you. But I will tell you, this is the first time, Jen, that I have felt like the 2024 election is in great trouble, for the president and for our democratic control, which is essential to moving forward.

• Rep. Dean Philips: So the answer is yes, he will lose. And I'm not the only one that thinks that. I may be one of the few that's simply willing to say it out loud.

• Former U.S. House Democrat Tim Ryan: Look, I've said this, Kasie—this is not breaking news. I don't think the president should run.

• Miami Beach's former Democratic mayor Philip Levine: It is a little bit like your grandfather running the company and you know that he's at a point now where the heirs could suffer value if we don't change management at the top. And this is very difficult. How do we get grandpa to relinquish the CEO role?

• DNC Member: It would be irresponsible for us to not be concerned at this point. People can be hopeful about what the result is going to be. But we don't have any evidence as to why we should be hopeful. The polling is bad. The approval ratings are bad. We know about concerns about both the president's age and about the vice president if she were to take over.

• David Axelrod, Former Senior Advisor to President Obama: The @POTUS is justly proud of his accomplishments. Trump is a dangerous, unhinged demagogue whose brazen disdain for the rules, norms, laws and institutions or democracy should be disqualifying. But the stakes of miscalculation here are too dramatic to ignore.

• Only @JoeBiden can make this decision. If he continues to run, he will be the nominee of the Democratic Party. What he needs to decide is whether that is wise; whether it's in HIS best interest or the country's? (LINK)

• Give me his record and chop 10 to 15 years off, I'd be really confident. People judge him on his public performance. That's what people see. That's where the erosion has been. It lends itself to Republican messaging. (LINK)

• Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Kimmel Live!: Calls for Joe Biden to drop out are getting louder, but that could be because he couldn't hear them.

• Bill Kristol, The Bulwark: It's time. President Biden has served our country well. I'm confident he'll do so for the next year. But it's time for an act of personal sacrifice and public spirit. It's time to pass the torch to the next generation. It's time for Biden to announce he won't run in 2024

• Ross Douthat, New York Times: But in running Biden for re-election, Democrats are making a fateful bet that this successful management can simply continue through two sets of risks: the high stakes of the next election, in which a health crisis or just more slippage might be the thing that puts Trump back in the White House, and the different but also substantial stakes of another four-year term.

• David Ignatius, Washington Post: President Biden should not run again in 2024

• Zachary B. Wolf, CNN: Democrats are praying 2024 is not 1980 and Biden is not Carter