Newsom Calls DeSantis’ Debate Rules ‘a Joke’

With the first 2024 Republican presidential debate just a few weeks away, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) is already looking forward to debating another opponent. His rivalry with California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has been brewing since the 2022 election, and it seems to be reaching a tipping point. Both Governors are now proposing rules to a hypothetical debate as Newsom calls DeSantis’ proposal “a joke.”

Over the weekend, Governor DeSantis responded to a hypothetical debate with Governor Newsom.

“Absolutely. I’m game, let’s get it done. Just tell me when and where,” DeSantis told Fox News host Sean Hannity, who would be the moderator for the hypothetical debate.

For months, both governors have directed political jabs at each other, alluding to a debate.

Now, Newsom’s team has responded to the potential debate, calling it “a joke.” Newsom’s team argued that the rules DeSantis has proposed would only “hide his insecurity and ineptitude.”

In a statement, Nathan Click, Governor Newsom’s spokesperson, said that “DeSantis’ counterproposal is littered with crutches to hide his insecurity and ineptitude – swapping opening statements with a hype video, cutting down the time he needs to be on stage, adding cheat notes and a cheering section.”

Hannity posited the debate as a “policy-based debate,” explaining, “I floated the idea of a policy-based debate, you know, red vs. blue, red state vs. blue state, between Gavin Newsom and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.”

“Governor Newsom has been challenging DeSantis to debate for months and sent him a formal debate offer last week,” the spokesperson said, adding that “November 8 or 10 – DeSantis should put up or shut up. Anything else is just games.”

Governor Newsom’s rules include it being a live debate that’s moderated by Hannity for a length of 90 minutes and that both Governors would not be allowed to use notes. As well, Newsom posited that the debate could take place in Georgia, Nevada, or North Carolina.

DeSantis’ counterproposal includes four dates between September 19 and November 8^th, a live audience with 50/50 split, which contrasts Newsom’s “no live audience,” no opening remarks, and both Governors would have to submit a two-minute video that would be approved by Fox News before being aired.