A spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) blasted the debate rules proposed by the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL).
An email sent to Fox News’s Sean Hannity from the office of DeSantis was obtained by Politico as Hannity has been designated ti mediate the debate.
Both Newsom and DeSantis agreed that the Fox News anchor will be the only person who can ask questions, and must keep the two governors from interrupting each other.
DeSantis’s team proposed that there be a live audience, versus Newsom’s desired empty room, and their respective opening statements be replaced with video presentations. Both, however, did agree on Georgia as the location, and Nov. 8 as the tentative debate date.
“What a joke,” Newsom’s spokesperson Nathan Click told the outlet. “Desantis’ counter-proposal 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.”
“Ron should be able to stand on his own two feet,” Click said. “It’s no wonder Trump is kicking his a**.”
Desantis’s office did not return the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
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Just this week, DeSantis agreed to the debate — floated for nearly a year — during a segment of Hannity, after Newsom suggested it in September.
DeSantis is running for president in 2024 against twelve other Republican candidates, but is among the two front-runners, which includes former President Donald Trump. Newsom has not announced an intention to unseat President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination, but has been speculated to be setting his sights on the White House.
