With the Republican primary debate just a week away, the candidates that will take the debate stage are preparing for a fight. With President Donald Trump (R) out of the equation, because he won’t be attending, all eyes are on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R). Ahead of the debate, Governor DeSantis’ debate prep strategy document has leaked. Maybe?
This week, Governor DeSantis’ debate prep documents were posted on the website of Axiom Strategies, which is a company owned by Jeff Roe, the chief strategist of Never Back Down, DeSantis’ super PAC.
In the document, “there are four basic must-dos” that Governor DeSantis should focus on during the debate.
“1. Attack Joe Biden and the media 3-5 times. 2. State GRD’s positive vision 2-3 times. 3. Hammer Vivek Ramaswamy in a response. 4. Defend Donald Trump in absentia in response to a Chris Christie attack” are the “must-dos” during the debate.
DeSantis is referred to as “GRD,” and the document leak comes at a time when DeSantis appears to continue struggling in the polls.
Just this month, DeSantis was overtaken by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) for second place in a FiveThirtyEight polling average in New Hampshire. In first place, President Trump led the rest of the Republican pool with 52.7% of Republican support.
DeSantis and Trump have been involved in a rivalry since the culmination of the 2022 midterm election, and Ramaswamy has quickly gained support as a Republican candidate.
So far, Ramaswamy and DeSantis have not engaged in a back and forth while on the campaign trail, and both Ramaswamy and DeSantis shared their disappointment with the federal charges aimed at Trump.
Ramaswamy has called the Georgia indictments “politicized persecutions,” and earlier this month, he vowed to fire “everybody in the government” that had a role in Trump’s “persecution.” He's been a vocal critic of the ongoing legal proceedings, and the debate could see him rise in the polls.
