FLORIDA’S TALLAHASSEE (AP) — Gov. Ron DeSantis and Democratic opponent Charlie Crist will face off in a debate Monday night. This could be Crist’s best — and possibly final — chance to influence the outcome of the campaign for governor of Florida.
DeSantis, a Republican firebrand with presidential aspirations, is leading many polls after focusing on divisive cultural issues throughout much of his last four years in office.
Crist, a former Democratic congressman and former Republican governor, is anxious to thwart DeSantis’ ascent to power.
The discussion, which was delayed from earlier in the month due to Hurricane Ian, takes place as early voting in much of the state gets underway. Before the final votes are cast on November 8, this is the first and only governor’s debate.
Even though the campaign for governor of Florida may not be the most competitive in the country this fall, DeSantis will have a rare opportunity to answer questions from those outside the conservative media circles he usually hangs out in during Monday’s debate.
According to Crist in an interview, “He doesn’t like responding to inquiries.” “He flinches when journalists ask him innocent, fair questions. It won’t take much for him to reach that breaking point, in my opinion. He abuses others.
An interview request from the DeSantis campaign received no response.
One topic, according to State GOP Chairman Joe Gruters, is more important than any others this election season: President Joe Biden.
According to Gruters, “this election is a referendum on Biden and his ideas.” All of the additional material is noise. He said Floridians are struggling “to survive in this Biden economy.
Democrats have been attempting to draw attention to DeSantis’ conservative record among voters, particularly the law he signed in April outlawing abortions at 15 weeks of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape or incest.
A bill outlawing critical race theory and LGBTQ concerns from many Florida schools was also passed into law by DeSantis, 44. He led efforts to eliminate the Disney Corp. ’s special tax status for condemning his so-called Don’t Say Gay bill.
And in recent weeks, he transported a large number of Venezuelan immigrants from Texas to a little island off the coast of Massachusetts in an effort to draw attention to illegal immigration at the border between the United States and Mexico.
His critics are many, but DeSantis’ popularity has surged in Florida, and among Republicans across the nation, especially after he led the GOP’s resistance to the pandemic-related public health measures in 2020.
He has also profited from the state’s broader conservative turn, a tendency that has been developing for ten years.
The recovery efforts following Hurricane Ian, which left more than 100 people dead along the state’s southwest coast, have taken up most of DeSantis’ attention in recent days. While delivering a storm update over the weekend, he also promised to eliminate sales taxes on diapers, wipes and other baby-related items.
DeSantis slapped at the Democrats in charge of the White House and Congress, saying, “We’re trying to help minimise the blow of what Washington has done.” “Obviously, there will be elections soon. A prospective leadership transition in the US Congress could be observed. Perhaps the rules will alter. We’ll see.
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The abortion ban enacted by DeSantis and the governor’s failure to lower Florida’s cost of living, particularly insurance expenses, are where Crist, 66, said he is most concerned.
DeSantis doesn’t appear to care about these Florida concerns that are discussed at dinner parties, according to Crist, who is running for president.
The discussion will take place at the Sunrise Theater in Fort Pierce at 7 p.m., and local television stations from all throughout the state will broadcast it.
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In their lone debate, Florida Governor DeSantis and Crist will square off.
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