Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is airing ads to promote the upcoming one-on-one debate with rival Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) as their ongoing coast-to-coast feud intensifies.
Newsom previously confirmed his willingness to participate in a debate against DeSantis during an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity in June.
“Let’s get it done. Just tell me when and where. We’ll do it,” DeSantis said, enthusiastically accepting Newsom’s challenge. DeSantis’ campaign is wholeheartedly embracing the debate as an exciting opportunity to gain momentum.
🚨Ron DeSantis has agreed to participate in a debate with Gavin Newsom.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 3, 2023
Talking points released by the campaign to DeSantis supporters read, “This isn’t about California vs. Florida – that debate has already been settled as people have been voting with their feet for years by moving to Florida. This is about two very different visions for the future of our country. Ron DeSantis is debating Gavin Newsom to highlight the choice facing American voters next year. The left wants America to follow the path of California’s decline – Ron DeSantis wants to reignite the American Dream, restore sanity and ensure our nation’s best days are ahead.”
The campaign further launched advertisements to boost the debate’s visibility and motivate voters to “choose their fighter.”
In a recent letter to requested moderator Sean Hannity, Newsom indicated that the “event will be marketed as a Red v. Blue debate that is focused on the impact of representation at the state level.”
The California governor also proposed that the debate take place in Nevada, Georgia or North Carolina.
During a recent visit to Newsom’s state, DeSantis pointed out that San Francisco has experienced a collapse due to leftist policies.
DeSantis said, “We saw people defecating on the street. We saw people using heroin. We saw people smoking crack cocaine. The city is not vibrant anymore. It’s really collapsed because of leftist policies, and these policies have caused people to flee this area. They don’t prosecute criminals like they do in most parts of the country, and the wreckage is really sad to see.”
Over the past few months, the two have engaged in a series of exchanges on various topics. Newsom placed pro-abortion ads in Florida, while DeSantis highlighted the issues of crime and drug use on California city streets.
Both parties have embraced the challenge, but a specific date for the debate has not been confirmed yet.
