In the wake of the second Republican presidential debate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is going on the offensive. DeSantis, who participated in the debate, found himself the target of President Joe Biden’s new campaign ad, which highlighted DeSantis’ criticism of former President Donald Trump’s absence from the debate stages. The ad concludes with Biden expressing his approval
DeSantis Responds
DeSantis didn’t waste any time in responding. He took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to fire back at Biden, saying, “When I’m the nominee, I’ll make you climb out of your basement, accept responsibility, and defend your failed record, @JoeBiden.”
But DeSantis didn’t stop there. He also directed his criticism at Trump, delving deeper into Trump’s absence from the debate stage. In a Fox News interview, DeSantis challenged Trump to “defend why he is running on the same program in 2016 that he did not actually implement.”
A Lackluster Debate Performance
DeSantis’ critiques come on the heels of a lackluster debate performance. He failed to create a viral or memorable moment during the debate, and some observers noted that his comments appeared rehearsed rather than spontaneous.
Once seen as one of Trump’s top potential Republican challengers, DeSantis’ poll numbers have declined since he announced his presidential run in May. Recent polls show Trump with a substantial lead over DeSantis, both nationally and in early-voting states.
DeSantis Remains Resolute
Despite his lower poll numbers, DeSantis remains undeterred. He emphasized that polls don’t elect presidents; voters do. As the race for the Republican presidential nomination continues, DeSantis is determined to make his case to voters and challenge both President Biden and former President Trump.
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