Some viewers may analyze Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the context of a future election: the 2024 presidential race, when DeSantis squares off against Democratic opponent Charlie Crist on Monday.
In less than a year and a half, DeSantis has emerged as a potential Republican presidential contender, casting a shadow over his reelection campaign against Crist, a former Republican governor who switched parties more than a decade ago and most recently held the position of US Representative representing Florida's 13th congressional district.
Ron DeSantis Avoids Question About 2024 Presidential Race
During Monday's debate with Crist in Fort Pierce, Florida, the governor's future aspirations, including the potential to run against former President Donald Trump in Republican presidential primaries, may come to light.
After his repeated disputes with President Joe Biden and his administration on COVID-19 lockdown and vaccine policy, DeSantis improved in Republican political polls. The governor has also engaged in a number of cultural conflicts that are expected to come up throughout the discussion, as per USA Today.
After the Walt Disney Company opposed to the 'Don't Say Gay' bill, which prevented teachers from discussing students' sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, DeSantis and Republican legislative allies disbanded the special tax district for the company.
In opposition to Biden's immigration policy, DeSantis last month approved the transfer of Venezuelan migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, a Democratic stronghold. Despite the move's popularity among GOP Republicans, a criminal investigation and a federal class-action lawsuit were launched by the nationwide debate.
According to the lawsuit, the governor of Florida approved a fraudulent operation that used misleading information to entice immigrants. In a debate with Democrat Charlie Crist, DeSantis was questioned about the possibility of running for president in 2024 but did not rule it out.
Crist constantly questioned the governor during the discussion about his political aspirations and if he intended to serve the entirety of his four-year tenure at the governor's office. As the room erupted in cheers in response to Crist's question, DeSantis reacted harshly. After a brief awkward pause, DeSantis replied, "Is it my time?"
"It's a fair question, but DeSantis won't answer it," Crist said, Daily Mail reported.
"Well, listen, I know Charlie is interested in talking about Joe Biden and 2024, but I just want to make things very, very clear," Desantis responded. "Charlie Crist is the only crippled old donkey I'm looking to pasture," he continued.
The discussion on Florida's economy, the housing market, and inflation was followed by the exchange. At times, DeSantis attempted to link Crist's energy plans to those of Biden.
Ron DeSantis, Charlie Crist Debate
The governor argued that he was an advocate for the interests of his state, such as the economy and education, throughout the discussion while equating Crist with Biden, who is unpopular nationwide.
In his stump speech, which he frequently delivers not just in Florida but across America, DeSantis, who is running for reelection four years after becoming a rising GOP star after becoming a narrow winner, deflected blows from Crist by highlighting many of the social issues he has legislated on, such as limiting what is taught in schools.
Per ABC News, DeSantis seldom addresses Crist on the campaign trail, so at the debate, he spoke more to the audience than to Crist. However, he took advantage of several opportunities to disparage his opponent by asserting that the former congressman would have chosen poorly as a leader, hurting companies during COVID-19 and permitting more abortions.
Crist has supported Biden throughout the campaign, referring to him as the "best president," and he has plans to fundraise with him in the last days before the election. However, during the discussion on Monday, he also discussed his own four years as governor under Republican rule and accused DeSantis of being a polarizing, changeable figure who would soon leave Florida for a presidential run.
In contrast, Crist claimed he was a "commonsense" unifier of people who wouldn't take away Floridians' rights, such as the freedom to get abortion. According to FiveThirtyEight, Crist is down by about 8 points in the polls. The surgery is now illegal in the state beyond 15 weeks, with several exceptions for the mother's health and fetal anomalies, including rape and incest. The courts are examining the prohibition.
On Monday, Crist brought up the accessibility to abortions and criticized DeSantis for having other professional aspirations. He pushed DeSantis to "look in the eyes of the state of Florida people and say to them if you're reelected" at one point in the discussion.
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