During the much-anticipated gubernatorial debate between Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist (D), the issue of abortion took centerstage as Rep. Crist answered just about every question by pivoting back to address abortion.
Crist’s entire gubernatorial campaign has been anchored on abortion.
When asked if he supported a ban on abortion after 1 week, Gov. DeSantis told the story of the mother of his recently-appointed Florida Supreme Court Justice Justice Renatha Francis.
Justice Francis’s mother went to get an abortion 40-years-ago but didn’t follow through with the procedure and now Justice Francis sits on the highest court in Florida.
“Well I was thinking back in the aftermath of this to a poor woman over 40 years ago in Jamaica and she found herself pregnant, didn't think there’d be many opportunities to have a child, was urged to abort the baby went to get the abortion. And, you know, for whatever reason – and maybe we can't explain – that didn't end up happening. And she ended up having the baby. And I think about that because a few months ago, I appointed her daughter to be the first Jamaican American justice in the history of the Florida Supreme Court,” said Gov. Desantis.
DeSantis then focused on Crist, accusing the Republican-turned-Independent-turned-Democrat, of supporting late-term abortions, “sex-selective abortions,” and “dismemberment abortions.”
I just think we're better when everybody counts. I understand not everyone's going to be born in perfect circumstances, but I would like to see everybody have a shot. I'm proud of the 15 weeks that we did. I know Charlie Crist opposes that even though the baby is fully formed, has a heartbeat, can feel pain, and can suck their thumb,” said DeSantis. “He also supports sex-selective abortions which is used to discriminate against little girls. He supports dismemberment abortions, where they literally will tear the baby limb from limb. He supports taxpayer funding of abortion all the way up until the moment of birth and that is wrong.”
Democrats seized on the U.S. Supreme Court striking down the Roe vs. Wade decision, hoping that abortion would help mitigate the expected “Red Wave” that is expected to wash up the Democratic Party on November 8.
While Democrats have bet the house on abortion, an issue that brought the party together for a few months, the inflation and the national economic issues have all but drowned out the abortion argument.
The latest public opinion poll has DeSantis leading Crist by 11 percentage points.
