2024 Presidential Campaign Blog

Ron DeSantis Suspends Presidential Campaign, Thanks Supporters

DeSantis Suspends Presidential Campaign, Thanks Supporters

“I am today suspending my campaign. I am proud to have delivered on 100% of my promises and I will not stop now.”

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Ron DeSantis today issued the following video statement suspending his presidential campaign and thanking his supporters.

A transcript of his remarks is below:

Greetings from Florida,
The warmth of being home is a reminder of why I have chosen a life of public service – from joining the United States Navy and serving in Iraq – to representing the people in Congress – and now serving as governor.

And it reminds me why I decided to run for President: to fight for those who have been forgotten in this country.

This is America’s time for choosing.

We can choose to allow a border invasion or we can choose to stop it.

We can choose reckless borrowing and spending or we can choose to limit government and lower inflation.

We can choose political indoctrination, or we can choose classical education.

These choices are symptoms of the underlying struggle to ensure that constitutional government can endure and that Western Civilization can survive.

We launched this campaign to bring accountability to government, regain sovereignty at our border, and restore sanity to our society.

We cannot succeed as a country if we allow our nation to be invaded, our currency to be debased, our cities to crumble, and our kids to be indoctrinated.

The DC elites who have facilitated this mess do not work for you, they do not care about you; they work for themselves. They seek to accumulate power at your expense to pursue an agenda that is harmful to the American people.

Citizens do not serve politicians; it is the duty of politicians to serve you.

Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words.

Reversing the decline of this nation requires leadership that delivers big results for the people we are elected to serve.

I have a record of leading with conviction, championing an agenda marked by bold colors, delivering on my promises, and defeating the people who are responsible for our nation’s decline.

That is the type of leadership we need for all of America.

Now over the past many months, Casey and I have traveled across the country to deliver a message of hope, that decline is a choice, and that we, in fact, can succeed again as a nation.

Nobody worked harder. And we left it all out on the field.

Now following our second-place finish in Iowa, we have prayed and deliberated on the way forward. If there was anything I could do to produce a favorable outcome — more campaign stops, more interviews — I would do it. But I can’t ask our supporters to volunteer their time and donate their resources if we don’t have a clear path to victory.

Accordingly, I am today suspending my campaign.

I am proud to have delivered on 100% of my promises and I will not stop now.

It’s clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance. They watched his presidency get stymied by relentless resistance and they see Democrats using lawfare to this day to attack him.

While I have had disagreements with Donald Trump, such as on the coronavirus pandemic and his elevation of Anthony Fauci, Trump is superior to the current incumbent, Joe Biden. That is clear.

I signed a pledge to support the Republican nominee and I will honor that pledge.

He has my endorsement because we can’t go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear -- a repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism -- that Nikki Haley represents.
The days of putting Americans last, of kowtowing to large corporations, of caving to woke ideology, are over.

I thank all of our passionate supporters who have stood by us through it all. That we had people volunteer to come to Iowa in the middle of a blizzard to knock on doors and make phone calls touched us dearly.

No candidate had more thrown at him, but no candidate had so many committed volunteers and staff.

Finally, I want to thank my wife Casey and our kids Madison, Mason, and Mamie. Casey has gone far above and beyond in her support for our campaign and for our cause. She is not only a great wife and mother; she is a great American, who cares deeply about the future of the country that our kids will inherit.

Our kids have seen and done a lot on the trail, from playing on the famed Field of Dreams baseball site in Iowa to making their first snowman in New Hampshire.
They are one of the reasons we fight so hard for what we believe in.

Winston Churchill once remarked that “success is not final, failure is not fatal — it is the courage to continue that counts.”

While this campaign has ended, the mission continues. Down here in Florida, we will continue to show the country how to lead.

Thank you and God bless.

 

Never Back Down to Host Events in New Hampshire with Special Guest Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday, January 19, 2024

Never Back Down to Host Events in New Hampshire with Special Guest Gov. Ron DeSantis

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Never Back Down will host special guest Gov. Ron DeSantis for events in New Hampshire on Friday, January 19th. NBD will host two town halls in Nashua and Dover.

Friday, January 19, 2024 @ 4:45 p.m. ET
Nashua Town Hall with Special Guest Ron DeSantis

VENUE
Nashua Events Center
Courtyard by Marriott Nashua
2200 Southwood Drive
Nashua, NH 03063

DOORS OPEN
4:15 PM ET

EVENT BEGINS
4:45 PM EST

GENERAL ADMISSION
Register Here

https://events.neverbackdown.org/e/Nashua-Town-Hall-with-Special-Guest-Ron-DeSantis

Friday, January 19, 2024 @ 7:30 p.m. ET
Dover Town Hall with Special Guest Ron DeSantis

VENUE
Cara Irish Pub & Restaurant
Chameleon Club
11 4th Street
Dover, NH 03820

DOORS OPEN
7:00 PM ET

EVENT BEGINS
7:30 PM ET

GENERAL ADMISSION
Register Here

https://events.neverbackdown.org/e/Dover-Town-Hall-with-Special-Guest-Ron-DeSantis

Ron DeSantis’ Remarks at Iowa Caucus Night Watch Party

Ron DeSantis’ Remarks at Iowa Caucus Night Watch Party

“Because of your support, in spite of all of that they threw at us, everyone against us, we've got our ticket punched out of Iowa.”

  DES MOINES, Iowa – Ron DeSantis tonight delivered remarks at his Iowa Caucus Night Watch Party in West Des Moines, Iowa. The full transcript is below.

“They threw everything but the kitchen sink at us.

hey spent almost $50 million attacking us. No one's faced that much all the way just through Iowa. The media was against us. They were writing our obituary months ago.

They even called the election before people even got a chance to vote.

They were just so excited about the fact that they were predicting that we wouldn't be able to get our ticket punched here out of Iowa. But I can tell you, because of your support, in spite of all of that they threw at us, everyone against us, we've got our ticket punched out of Iowa.

And what I what I learned by going around Iowa is that this country has a basic decency. We've got hardworking people, God fearing people, patriotic people. You just don't see it every day because of all the nonsense that gets spewed out there, by the media, by social media, all this other stuff. People want to have hope for this country's future. And that's what we represent. We represent a chance to reverse the madness that we've seen in this country, to reverse the decline of this country and to give this country a new birth of freedom and a restoration of sanity. That's what we are going to do.

So we have our marching orders. Our marching orders are to do all we can to preserve what George Washington called the sacred fire of liberty, the same fire that burned in Philadelphia in 1776, when our founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. The same sacred fire of liberty that burned at a cemetery in Gettysburg when our first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, pledged our nation to a new birth of freedom. The same sacred fire of liberty that was on the beaches of Normandy in 1944, when our band of brothers stormed those shores and helped free the world. The same sacred fire of liberty that was at the Berlin Wall in 1987, when Ronald Reagan stood there and said, ‘Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.’ This is our responsibility to carry this torch and to preserve this sacred fire of liberty. Don't run away from this responsibility. We welcome this responsibility.

We thank you for your effort. We thank you for your support. You helped us get a ticket punched out of the Hawkeye State. We have a lot of work to do, but I can tell you this as the next President of the United States. I am going to get the job done for this country.

I am not going to make any excuses. And I guarantee you this: I will not let you down. Thank you. God bless you. Thank you so much.”

DeSantis Campaign Statement on the Media's Election Interference

DeSantis Campaign Statement on the Media's Election Interference 

DES MOINES, Iowa – The DeSantis campaign released the following statement:  

"It is absolutely outrageous that the media would participate in election interference by calling the race before tens of thousands of Iowans even had a chance to vote. The media is in the tank for Trump and this is the most egregious example yet."- Communications Director Andrew Romeo. 

Sioux City Journal Editorial Board Endorses Ron DeSantis for President

Sioux City Journal Editorial Board Endorses Ron DeSantis for President

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Sioux City Journal’s editorial board today released their endorsement of Ron DeSantis for president.

“If Iowans want to send a message to fellow Republicans across the country, they need to get behind Ron DeSantis. He speaks their language.”
Read the endorsement below.

DeSantis represents GOP's best choice in Iowa caucuses
Editorial Board
Sioux City Journal

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis represents the Republicans’ best shot at regaining the White House.

We say this after a presidential campaign that has made Iowa like a second home for GOP presidential candidates.

Try to name those who were in the mix early on and you’ll see how long the race has been. Through it all, DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley have made the most compelling cases to choose someone other than former president Donald Trump for the job.

We realize the former president has a big following, including in Northwest Iowa, but there’s too much baggage, too many uncertainties to consider a second Trump term.
Haley, who as a former United Nations ambassador was part of that White House, told us about his cavalier ways of making decisions. Even though campaign ads tout his desire to “build a wall,”
Trump had the opportunity and didn’t finish the job. He also has countless legal problems, which are major distractions. As challengers like to point out, we don’t need more chaos in government. A second Trump era would ensure it.

That leaves Ohio businessmen Vivek Ramaswamy, The Rev. Ryan Binkley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, DeSantis and Haley, all who have met with members of our editorial board.
While Hutchinson and Binkley have been good warriors in the fight, they don’t have the support to make a dent in the big three. Ramaswamy doesn’t either, but he’s a tireless campaigner, suggesting a run for Congress might be a better future path to the White House.

That leaves DeSantis and Haley as the two candidates most likely to win.

Haley is more moderate; DeSantis supports many of the same policies as Trump. Haley likely would be a good choice to court Democrats or independent voters. DeSantis is a better choice to corral former Trump voters willing to leave the fold.

But this is the Republican caucus, not the general election.

From that vantage point, we believe DeSantis is most in line with Iowa Republicans. He has the endorsement of Gov. Kim Reynolds and shares her views about education, abortion and border security.

Haley has softer stands on those issues – ones that likely would play better with Democrats. If she faced Joe Biden in the fall, she would give them a reason to think twice about a second term.
DeSantis plays the Republican cards. He was practically embedded in Iowa (pulling off the full-Grassley, as did Ramaswamy and Binkley) and heard those Republicans and their concerns. He appeals to disillusioned Trump supporters and gives them answers they seek.

There are questions whether DeSantis will pull in a large enough swath of independents or play well in other early nominating states after Iowa.

Who wins the caucuses?
Undefined on the polls, the smart money is still on Trump dominating Monday night. But political tea leaves suggest DeSantis could pull a surprise. His campaign touts a strong ground game that could get committed voters to precinct sites, which could prove invaluable with double-digit wind chills forecast Monday night.

If Iowans want to send a message to fellow Republicans across the country, they need to get behind Ron DeSantis. He speaks their language.
...
The Journal editorial board endorses Ron DeSantis in his bid for the presidency.

Ron DeSantis Photos, Countdown to Caucus Tour, Never Back Down HQ Stop, West Des Moines, Iowa, January 13, 2024

Ron DeSantis Hits New Milestone, Earns Over 150 Endorsements from Iowa Faith Leaders

DeSantis Hits New Milestone, Earns Over 150 Endorsements from Iowa Faith Leaders
Days before the Iowa Caucus, DeSantis gains 50 new endorsements from pastors and faith leaders

DES MOINES, IA – Ron DeSantis has reached a new milestone of over 150 endorsements from Iowa pastors, earning 50 new endorsements in the final days before the Iowa Caucus. These faith leaders join a long list of grassroots activists from across the nation who support DeSantis as part of the National Faith and Freedom Coalition. All the new Iowa endorsers announced today plan to caucus for him on Monday.

“Gov. DeSantis is the one candidate that I believe truly wants to put America first. He has proven this through his military service and in his work as the governor of Florida. I see a man who leads his family well, has continued to stand firm for conservative values, and has been successful at every level.” - Pastor RJ Montis, Ankeny Hope Church of the Nazarene (Polk)

"Other candidates talk, but Ron DeSantis is a true man of unwavering faith and defender of religious liberty who we can trust to unite our nation and revive America. I will be honored to support him on caucus night and encourage my fellow Iowans to do the same.” - Pastor Jeff Moes, Sunnybrook Community Church (Woodbury)

“I believe that Ron DeSantis is a political candidate whose core convictions are based upon principles of faith and a Christian worldview. He has earned my respect and my full support for the upcoming caucus this Monday.” - Pastor AJ Potter, Pleasantville Baptist Church (Marion)

In September, DeSantis launched his Faith and Family Coalition to help spread his message to put 'God over government' as well as build support for the actions he will take as president to defend religious freedom, allow people of faith to flourish, and advance the culture of life.

The full list of pastors and faith leaders supporting DeSantis is below.

Pastor Kendall Adams, Burlington Baptist Church (Des Moines)
Pam Adams, Burlington Baptist Church (Des Moines)
Pastor Grady Adkins, Coram Deo Bible Church (Scott)
Dale Akkerman, Development Director at Timothy Christian School (Grundy) 
Pastor Ian Alfonso Rojas, Iglesia Vasatago del Verbo (Dallas)
Brian Allen, Bible Study Leader, Walnut Creek Church (Polk)
Pastor Steve Allison (Scott)
Pastor Bryan Anderson, Tabernacle Baptist Church (Lyon) 
Rachel Anderson, Tabernacle Baptist Church (Lyon)
Jeff Arrandale, Christian Singer/Songwriter and Worship Leader (Warren)
Pastor Mike Augsburger, Soteria Church (Polk)
Pastor Gary Axtell, Grace Baptist Church (Madison) 
Kathleen Banowetz, Head of Prayer Team (Linn)
Pastor Earl Beal, Joy Baptist Church (Lee)
Kathy Beal, Joy Baptist Church (Lee)
Zia Bingaman, First Church of the Open Bible Des Moines (Polk)
Pastor Dan Bittinger, CrossPointe Church (Woodbury)
Marlin Bontrager, Bontrager Family Singers (Washington)
Becky Bontrager, Bontrager Family Singers (Washington)
Pastor Joseph Brown, Marion Avenue Baptist Church (Washington) 
Charity Brown, Marion Avenue Baptist Church (Washington)
Denise Bubeck, Ministry Leader (Polk)
Pastor Peter Buschmann, St. John's Congregational Church & Colesburg Community Church (Delaware)
Pastor David Bush, Fit For The King Ministry (Polk)
Cindy Campbell, Pastor’s Wife (Story)
Pastor Mark Cannon, Hope Baptist Church (Scott)
Martin A. Cannon, National Pro-Life Trial Lawyer (Pottawattamie)
Deacon Doug Chervek, Adelphi Calvary Baptist Church (Polk)
Tricia Chervek, Adelphi Calvary Baptist Church (Polk)
Pastor Dave Childers (Polk)
Glen Cornell, Praise & Worship Team, Walnut Creek Church (Polk)
Pastor Simeon Counterman, Calvary Baptist Church (Des Moines)
Bonnie Counterman, Calvary Baptist Church (Des Moines)
Robert Cramer, Former Chair of The FAMiLY LEADER (Dallas)
Pastor Brad Cranston, Iowa Baptists for Biblical Values (Des Moines)
Heidi Cranston, Iowa Baptists for Biblical Values (Des Moines)
Vicki Crawford, Iowa Homeschool Leader (Polk)
Pastor Steven Croft (Wapello)
Aaron Culley, Director of Candeo Counseling Director (Black Hawk)
Pastor Sean Cully (Dallas)
Pastor Rick David (Linn) 
Sherry David, Ministry Leader (Linn) 
Pastor Rex Deckard, Calvary Des Moines (Polk)
Pastor Bob Deever, Former Pastor of Grace West Church (Polk)
Shannon Demastus, Fort Des Moines Church of Christ (Polk)
Pastor Brett Denham, Monticello Baptist Church (Jones)
Maggie DeWitte, Executive Director of Pulse Life Advocates* (Dallas)
Gwendy Doland, Youth and Women's Small Group Leader at New Hope Christian Church (Tama) 
Pastor Mark Doland, Church of Christ (Tama) 
Pastor Frank Donato, New Hope Christian Church (Marshall)
Pastor Mark Doss, Napier Community Church & Faith-Based Nonprofit Leader (Boone)
Carol Doss, Ministry Leader (Boone)
Pastor & Rep. Jon Dunwell
Pastor Kirk Evans, Indianola Church of Christ (Warren)
Andy Folkmann, Calvary Community Church (Linn)
Janice Fricke, Triumphant Church (Buchanan) 
Pastor Lance Fricke, Triumphant Church (Buchanan) 
Evangelist Caleb Garraway, Remnant Ministries (Washington) 
Pastor Tom Gibson, North Liberty Baptist Church (Johnson)
Pastor Ed Grant, Senior Pastor of Thrive Church (Warren)
Senator Jesse Green, Bible Class Teacher at Trinity Lutheran (Boone) 
Pastor Michael Griswold, Marion Avenue Baptist Church (Washington) 
John Grzywacz, Volunteer for Pulse Life Advocates* (Story)
Kim Grzywacz, Treasurer of the Board for Pulse Life Advocates* (Story)
Bob Hager, Former Director of Living Stone (Allamakee)
Pastor Doug Harris, Pella Open Bible Church (Marion)
Mary Jo Harty, Board Member of Pulse Life Advocates* (Polk)
Minister Matthew Haynie, Ogden Church of Christ (Boone) 
Pastor Jessten Heimer, Trinity Lutheran Church and School (Boone) 
Brooke Higgins, Women's Ministry Teacher at Calvary Community Church (Linn) 
Pastor Jeremy Higgins, Calvary Community Church (Linn) 
Taya Hirschy, Heartland Church (Polk)
Chuck Hurley (Polk)
Pastor Kerry Jech, New Hope Christian Church (Marshall)
Pastor John Koopman (Palo Alto)
Pastor Tim Johnson, Wapello Methodist Church (Louisa)
Shari Kastein, Elder, First Reformed Church (Lyon)
Pastor Aaron Keller, Sunshine Open Bible Church (Polk)
Wendy Keller, Sunshine Open Bible Church (Polk)
David Klang, Treasurer of Hanford Church (Cerro Gordo)
Pastor Monte Knudsen, Faith Christian Outreach Church (Henry)
Pastor Abe Koehn, Marion Avenue Baptist Church (Washington) 
Brittany Koopman, St. Paul's Lutheran Church & Peace Lutheran Church Tom Law, Calvary Community Church (Linn)
Joel Kurtinitis, Homeschool Leader (Dallas)
Kelsey Kurtinitis, Homeschool Leader (Dallas)
Logan Lindow, Faith Bible College Student Body President (Polk)
Pastor Matt Magee, Oak Grove Church (Benton) 
Pastor Dave Martin, Faith Assembly of God (Marshall)
Pastor Edward Mast, Old Paths Baptist Church (Dubuque)
Tammy Mast, Old Paths Baptist Church (Dubuque)
Pastor Ed Matthews, Bible Baptist Church (Wapello) 
Pastor Drew McHolm, The Little Brown Church in the Vale (Chickasaw)
Whitney Smith McIntosh, Board Member for Pulse Life Advocates (Polk)
Pastor Randy Miller, Pleasantville Baptist Church (Marion)
Vicki Miller, Pleasantville Baptist Church (Marion)
Pastor Jeff Moes, Sunnybrook Community Church (Woodbury)
Beth Moes, Sunnybrook Community Church (Woodbury)
Pastor RJ Montis, Ankeny Hope Church of the Nazarene (Polk)
Pastor Mike Morgan, Marion Methodist Church (Linn)
Pastor Jesse Newman (Polk)
John Nish, Adult Teacher for Soteria Church (Madison)
Jaime Norton, Orchestra Director, Marion Avenue Baptist Church (Washington)
Pastor Harerimana Nshoreyingabo, Redeemed Fellowship Center (Polk) 
Alan Ostergren, Conservative Attorney (Polk)
Pastor Zac Patke, Calvary Baptist Church (O'Brien)
Hannah Patke, Calvary Baptist Church (O'Brien)
Pastor Alfonso Perez, Miracle Life Family Church (Polk) 
Pastor Marcial Perez, New Dawn Ministries (Polk) 
Pastor Terry Pollard, Eastside Church of Nazarene (Polk) 
Anne Posegate, Confirmation Mentor, St. Pius X Catholic Church (Polk)
Bret Posegate, Confirmation Mentor, St. Pius X Catholic Church (Polk)
Pastor AJ Potter, Pleasantville Baptist Church (Marion)
Karis Potter, Pleasantville Baptist Church (Marion)
Tom Quiner, President of the Board for Pulse Life Advocates* (Polk)
Pastor Mike Rains (Jasper)
Pastor Andres Reyes, First Baptist Church (Dallas)
Pastor Tim Ried, Associate Pastor, Bethel Baptist Church (Buena Vista)
Ann Rosenthal, Lay Leader, New Covenant Bible Church (Linn)
Eric Rosenthal, Lay Leader, New Covenant Bible Church (Linn)
Sean Sanford, Youth Leader and Small Group Leader (Linn) 
Pastor Joyce Schmidt, St. Olaf Lutheran Church (Humboldt) 
Tim Schmidt, St. Olaf Lutheran Church (Humboldt)
Pastor Dave Schneider (Polk)
Pastor Anna Schneider (Polk)
Pastor Ben Segebart, Indianola Freedom Fellowship Church (Warren)
John Shuster, Awana Leader, Federated Church of Bondurant (Polk)
Jean Smith, Secretary of the Board for Pulse Life Advocates* (Polk)
Dr. Dave Smith, Evangelist sent out by Liberty Baptist Church (Linn)
Shonna Smith, Wife of Evangelist (Linn)
Pastor Scott Sokol (Hancock) 
Pastor Jared Staten, Refuge City Church (Linn)
Pastor Kim Staten, Refuge City Church (Linn)
Pastor Kevin Subra, SonRise Baptist Church (Polk)
Scott Thompson, Elder (Winnebago)
Lori Tiangco, Children's Ministry at First Church of the Open Bible Des Moines (Polk)
Loren Tiangco, Worship Team at First Church of the Open Bible Des Moines (Polk)
Kathy Van Solen, Prayer Leader (Polk)
Bob Vander Plaats (Polk)
Darla Vander Plaats (Polk)
Brenda Vanhofwegen, VP of Women's Ministry, First Reformed Church (Lyon)
Deacon Rob Vanhofwegen, First Reformed Church (Lyon)
Pastor Kurt Veenstra, Experience Church (Polk)
Kimberly Veenstra, Central Region Open Bible (Polk)
Pastor John Vermeer, Doon United Reformed Church (Lyon)
Pastor Larry Wallingford, Living Waters Assembly of God (Lee)
Pastor Chad Welch, First Baptist Church (Van Buren)
Matt Wells, Lay Leader at Marion Avenue Baptist Church (Washington) 
Pastor Leslie White, CrossFire Church (Fayette)
Pastor Darran Whiting, Liberty Baptist Church (Linn)
Ronda Whiting, Liberty Baptist Church (Linn)
Maria Wilson, Iglesia Espiritu y Verdad (Polk)
Reverend Shane Wilson, Iglesia Espiritu y Verdad (Polk)

*For identification purposes

Never Back Down Events in Pella and Coralville Postponed Due to Unsafe Weather Conditions

Never Back Down Events in Pella and Coralville Postponed Due to Unsafe Weather Conditions

DES MOINES, Iowa – Never Back Down is postponing the Pella and Coralville Countdown to Caucus tour stops with special guest Gov. Ron DeSantis due to unsafe weather conditions in the area.

Postponed Friday, January 12, 2024 @ 3:30 p.m. CT
Countdown to Caucus Tour - Pella with Special Guest Governor Ron DeSantis

VENUE
The Bread Board
616 Franklin Street
Pella, IA 50219

Postponed Friday, January 12, 2024 @ 6:45 p.m. CT
Countdown to Caucus Tour - Coralville with Special Guest Governor Ron DeSantis

VENUE
X-Golf Coralville
211 E 9th Street
Coralville, IA 52241

Never Back Down Events in Clear Lake and Marshalltown Postponed Due to Unsafe Weather Conditions

Never Back Down Events in Clear Lake and Marshalltown Postponed Due to Unsafe Weather Conditions

DES MOINES, Iowa – Never Back Down is postponing the Clear Lake and Marshalltown Countdown to Caucus tour stops with special guest Gov. Ron DeSantis due to unsafe weather conditions in the area. Remaining events in Pella and Coralville for Friday, January 12th will be monitored throughout the day and updates will be made as needed.

Postponed Friday, January 12, 2024 @ 10:15 a.m. CT
Countdown to Caucus Tour - Clear Lake with Special Guest Governor Ron DeSantis

VENUE
The Boulevard Bar & Grill
1311 Bayou Road
Clear Lake, IA 50428

Postponed Friday, January 12, 2024 @ 1:45 p.m. CT
Countdown to Caucus Tour - Marshalltown Retail Stop with Special Guest Governor Ron DeSantis

VENUE
Old Timer Tavern
401 S Center Street
Marshalltown, IA 50158

Release - What They Are Saying: DeSantis is “More Substantive” Than Haley in His “Best Debate Performance”

WTAS: DeSantis is “More Substantive” Than Haley in His “Best Debate Performance”

“Strong night for DeSantis.” “A proven track record.” “Calm, collected, and the longer this debate has gone on, he's still firing.” “DeSantis won this evening’s #GOPDebate.”

DES MOINES, Iowa — Ron DeSantis had a smackdown debate performance at Drake University tonight. He highlighted his vision for the country while also calling out Trump for not defending his record on the debate stage and highlighting Haley’s flip-flops on issues that matter to Republican voters.

Here’s What They Are Saying:

Brittany Jean: This is DeSantis’ best debate. He knows the facts are on his side and he is using them all to destroy Nikki Haley
Scott Jennings: DeSantis smart to steer it back to the education policy/school choice stuff, away from Haley going nuts on campaign inside baseball. #CNNdebate

Frank Luntz: DeSantis won this evening’s #GOPDebate. His performance was the best of his career.

Abby Phillip: It was a strong night for DeSantis.

Curtis Houk: .@RonDeSantis is exactly right. This election must be a referendum on Joe Biden and "the failures of the Democratic Party." If it's about trials and relitigating the last election, then it'll be an election the media can't wait for and voters will act accordingly.

Michael Brendan Dougherty: In general, DeSantis is more substantive. He’s done his homework. Nikki Haley is more relatable, if you are currently tired and unpleasant.

LG Jeanette Nuñez: .@RonDeSantis has a proven track record of delivering results. Unlike Nikki Haley, he won’t bend the knee or cave to the left.
Dana Loesch: This is the worst debate Haley has had. She comes across as Hillary 2.0: petty, whiny, playing the woman card, while DeSantis seems confident and amused.

Katie Pavlich: DeSantis promises a reckoning against the federal government agencies that violated the U.S. Constitution during the pandemic. Vaccine mandates, mask mandates, school lockdowns, closing of worship, all of it. 👏🏼

Scott Jennings: "ballistic podiatry" - that will remain with us for awhile. #CNNdebate

Miranda Devine: This incessant sniping from Haley, calling DeSantis a liar every two minutes, is grating. DeSantis got in one zinger, which drew a few laughs, accusing her of “ballistic podiatry” aka shooting herself in the foot.

Curtis Houck: Ron DeSantis is calm, collected, and the longer this debate has gone on, he's still firing. He's not tired or flustered. #GOPDebate

Steve Deace: Haley is rushed and just noticeably less poised. Her substance, for her message, isn’t all that bad and she’s doing better there than I anticipated. But the presentation isn’t presidential. On style points, DeSantis is dominating.

Scott Jennings: DeSantis is channeling the correct attitude and energy on immigration. Haley using the "jump the line" idea also effective, but I think DeSantis won the exchange. #CNNdebate

NRO: Once again, DeSantis is talking about actual accomplishments, such as getting school choice done, and Haley keeps responding by attacking DeSantis campaign spending and bad polling.

Scott Jennings: DeSantis UN quip on Haley will stick. Yowza. That one cut deep. #CNNdebate

Julia Johnson: That DeSantis one liner was good

Rich Lowry: Nikki Haley has spent a lot of the night looking annoyed

Philip Wegmann: DeSantis with a brutal barb: You can take the ambassador out of the United Nations but you can't take the United Nations out of the ambassadors.

New York Post: DeSantis savages Haley's 'UN way of thinking'

New York Post: DeSantis cites kid's 'John Kerry' burn to hit Haley on child gender transitions

Scott Jennings: not a single voter cares about the inside baseball of campaign operations.
Ryan Saavedra: If your only rebuttal to your opponent is repeatedly telling people to go to a website full of half truths and political spin, you're not a strong candidate.

Chris Loesch: 🔥 “Leadership is about getting things done.” ~ @RonDeSantis

Philip Wegmann: At the first commercial break: DeSantis is giving arguably his best debate performance yet (ie the UN line) Haley is hitting back just as hard, giving him 'the Vivek treatment' (ie the drinking game line) Tapper and Bash are steering the debate toward substance and policy.

Steve Deace: DeSantis is very composed and poised thus far, and clearly coming across as more presidential. However, I also think he’s missed a couple of easy rebuts/punches that would’ve only required going off his play sheet briefly.

Dana Loesch: DeSantis is smart to bring every issue right back to a jab at Haley and refuse to let Trump be a focus without being present.

Frank Luntz: ...I’ve been critical of him, but he’s on fire tonight. #GOPDebate

Scott Jennings: DeSantis UN quip on Haley will stick. Yowza. That one cut deep. #CNNdebate

Ryan Saavedra: If your only rebuttal to your opponent is repeatedly telling people to go to a website full of half truths and political spin, you're not a strong candidate.

Miranda Devine: Haley coming across as very unlikeable tonight. Not sure if the tactic was to get under DeSantis’ skin but it hasn’t worked and has just backfired.