DeSantis is getting a leg up on the competition.
Casey DeSantis praised her husband’s performance in the initial Republican candidate debate of 2023 through a social media post on platform X.
According to Fox, during the debate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis opened with two statements that echoed slogans he had previously used. Firstly, he restated his belief that the decline of America is a deliberate choice, a sentiment he has consistently expressed since his inaugural speech in January to the people of Florida.
He stated, “Our country’s decline is a choice we’ve made,” emphasizing his position.
Following that, he asserted that Dr. Anthony Fauci, a prominent figure in infectious disease, should have been removed by former President Trump at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a firm and assertive tone, DeSantis announced, “When it came to Fauci and the crisis, the call should have been to say, Anthony, you’re dismissed,” which garnered applause from the audience. This viewpoint also reflected a phrase he had used recently.
DeSantis also emphasized that the primary duty of the president is to safeguard the nation and its citizens, including at the United States’ border with Mexico. While he reiterated his decision not to send troops to Ukraine but instead to the border, he highlighted his intention to declare the border situation a national emergency.
He reaffirmed his commitment to tackling unlawful immigration by reiterating his proposal that individuals suspected of using the border for drug trafficking should face lethal force and be dealt with decisively.
With the absence of former President Donald Trump from the debate, DeSantis assumed a prominent role on Wednesday night. Thanks to his secure second-place position in the polls, he took center stage. Nevertheless, as the debate unfolded, there was a noticeable shift in focus.
According to The New York Times, DeSantis found himself speaking less than Pence, Ramaswamy, and Christie.
Over the course of the nearly two-hour debate, DeSantis spoke for approximately 10 minutes and 22 seconds. Pence had the floor for 12 minutes and 37 seconds, Ramaswamy for 11 minutes and 47 seconds, while Christie’s speaking time amounted to 11 minutes and 22 seconds, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times.