What They Are Saying: DeSantis Stands Above the Rest and Wins Second GOP Primary Debate
“DeSantis won this debate. It wasn’t close.” “Bulldoze False Media Narratives.” “DeSantis won this debate tonight.” "Very presidential."
James Uthmeier, Campaign Manager: “We've got a great team. It's the right word for it. Enjoying is the right word here. You get to take the gloves off a little bit and have some fun. But yeah, we're having a great time. We’ve got a good team. We're built for the long haul. We're going to be there when other candidates fall off the stage and that needs to happen.”
Hugh Hewitt: “Ron DeSantis got a walk off home run at the end when he took control of the debate away from the moderators and he said I'm not going to play that game and then he was very presidential. He's also the first candidate to mention Commander in Chief tonight which I think is a very important thing.”
Dana Loesch: DeSantis won this debate tonight. He shot down bad faith arguments without seeming unpleasant and hit back with a record of achievements while rejecting clown show overtures. Everyone else on that stage is auditioning for VP, cable news, or a publisher.
James Uthmeier, Campaign Manager : “I think it was very clear to people at home. Only one candidate on that stage looked like the president. And that is Ron DeSantis. You had Spats going left and right. But question after question, every issue he has delivered, he has the proven record. And as your president he will get the job done. The people heard that tonight. They know that he distanced himself from the rest of the stage and you will see this horse race continue to get stronger and stronger as we get into the early states. And Ron DeSantis has one thing that no other candidate including the former president has, he has the most resources and the most robust operation in the early states, especially Iowa. He has county chairs in every single state and he will spend a lot of time there when it's cold. 20 degrees on caucus night. Ron DeSantis is going to have the team connected to the voters that get people out to carry out their duty. He is going to do very, very, very, very well and I will I can't wait for him.”
Ryan Tyson, Senior Advisor: It's time for the former president to come out and play. There's been so many comments that are made about polls, and this and that, and another... the last time I checked, voters are the ones that actually get to make this decision. Not polls, not media polls, as bad as they may be. The reality is, it's time to have this conversation. It's unfortunate. He's not the same candidate. Donald Trump is not the same candidate he was back in 2016. He's just not. And it's unfortunate the basement strategy they're deploying, but we do look forward to him coming out and playing the former president.
Bret Baier: Governor DeSantis steps in and says, Listen, this is silly. Yeah. And I've done a lot in Florida, etc, etc. In other words, he landed the dismount after that argument, and there were a couple of those moments, which is why I say DeSantis had a good night.
Steve Deace: It is, officially now, just a two-person race.
Iowa Rep. Jon Dunwell: Missing in action on fiscal responsibility…Joe Biden and Donald Trump. They added $12T to our national debt. @RonDeSantis nailed it!
Buck Sexton: 3 candidates are running to be in a Trump cabinet. 2 are running out of anti-trump spite. 1 wants people to build up his profile. 1 is running to be president
Tomi Lahren: DeSantis is the only one who has actually taken action against activist DAs
Dr. Abby Johnson: Wow. DeSantis is the first one to bring up and defend the pro-life movement tonight. He even called out Trump for blaming the pro-life movement for the midterm elections last year. DeSantis has the courage and bravery to speak the truth. That’s a true leader.
Bob Vander Plaats: "I want him (@realDonaldTrump) to look the people who have been fighting this fight for a long time in the eyes and explain himself," @GovRonDeSantis says about Donald Trump's recent #Life comments. Standing up for innocent, unborn life is NEVER harsh. Proverbs 31:8. #ProLife #ChooseWell2024
Jessica Anderson: Good point from Governor DeSantis…the fentanyl crisis is orchestrated by the dangerous cartels who are empowered by the Biden admin’s policies.
Chip Roy: Bulldoze False Media Narratives. Stand With Parents. #Leadership
Dana Loesch: Strong point from DeSantis here re: the CCP and his fight against them in Florida. #GOPDebate
Chris Loesch: Look, DeSantis won this debate. It wasn’t close. Vivek gets relegated to a never was. Haley came off as rude. Pence was boring. Christie was funny and that other guy… I can’t even remember. Save me your spin, @RonDeSantis won and Trump was a chicken.
Nick Nehemas: DeSantis talks a lot on the trail about having removed two elected liberal prosecutors from office in his state. But that’s the first time I’ve heard him say that, as president, he would use the Justice Department to bring civil rights cases against similar prosecutors nationwide.
Iowa Rep. Taylor Collins: The difference between @RonDeSantis and the rest of the candidates on the stage tonight is he doesn’t just talk about what he’s going to do, he actually does it.
Tom LoBianco: DeSantis promises he won't ever sign a "bloating spending bill"
Florida State Rep Kiyan Michael: What the others are saying they will do..has mostly already been done here in Florida by the one & only @GovRonDeSantis, so there’s that. Next question..
Jeanette Nuñez: Florida is the blueprint for the revival of American education.
@RonDeSantis stands with parents, keeps union bosses in check, has secured universal school choice, and kids are benefiting.
Ryan Petty: Excuse me @Mike_Pence, how dare you use the Parkland tragedy as a cheap political hit. You should apologize immediately. Governors don’t pick juries and they don’t force them to vote for justice. @RonDeSantis has stood with the Parkland families from day 1.
Dr Cody Hoefert: Gov Haley says they didn’t not get school choice in South Carolina due to lack of trying. Actually @RonDeSantis got it done in Florida. That’s the difference between leading and trying. #GOPDebate
Philip Wegmann: DeSantis leads the revolt on behalf of the field against the moderators when they ask candidates to write down the name of which candidate should drop out.
