Florida Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ron-desantis">Ron DeSantis</a> received strong praise online from many prominent conservative commentators following his debate performance against California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The Thursday night debate in Georgia on Fox News was supposed to be about which state America should be like, California or Florida. Instead, the event turned quickly turned into DeSantis repeatedly going for the jugular on policy issues while Newsom largely was forced to resort to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/desantis-rips-newsom-over-california-exodus-newsom-refuses-to-address">not answering questions</a>, sidestepping attacks, and trying to portray DeSantis as a &#8220;bully.&#8221; Newsom was also called out several times throughout the debate and online by right-leaning commentators for making various false claims.
Not much data is yet available on viewer response, but an online instant reaction poll on Drudge Report gave DeSantis the clear victory, the Florida governor getting an overwhelming <a href="https://poll.fm/13047383/results">67-33% win</a> over his California counterpart. While many left-leaning commentators and DeSantis critics on the right credited Newsom on style, many conservatives gave DeSantis an overwhelming win on substance.
The lone Newsom line that the political Left and some Trump supporters repeatedly touted was his claim that neither he nor DeSantis would be their party&#8217;s presidential nominee in 2024.
Those who praised DeSantis often cited his command of the facts, particularly about the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/desantis-rips-newsom-over-california-exodus-newsom-refuses-to-address">results</a> of California&#8217;s progressive policies, while several moments from the Florida governor were widely circulated online, including when he highlighted <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-desantis-shows-san-francisco-poop-map-during-newsom-debate">a map that plots human feces</a> on the streets of San Francisco and condemned California&#8217;s &#8220;transgender sanctuary&#8221; laws.
Conservative radio giant Mark Levin tweeted: &#8220;DeSantis went up against the Democrat Party star and whipped him. It&#8217;s just that simple.&#8221;
Radio host Clay Travis said, &#8220;I was 100% wrong on this debate. I thought Gavin Newsom would be likable and intelligent. I was incorrect. This is a massacre. If this were a boxing match, Newsom’s corner would have thrown in the towel a long time ago. Complete and total win for DeSantis from open to close.&#8221;
&#8220;It’s a blessing for DeSantis that California doesn’t enforce criminal laws anymore,&#8221; said actor James Woods. &#8220;Because he murdered Newsom tonight.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
It’s a blessing for DeSantis that California doesn’t enforce criminal laws anymore. 
Because he murdered Newsom tonight. <a href="https://t.co/Yp6odhATR7">pic.twitter.com/Yp6odhATR7</a>
&mdash; James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealJamesWoods/status/1730444085276905954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
&#8220;Ron DeSantis cleaned the floor with Gavin Newsom tonight,&#8221; said Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT). &#8220;Well done, @RonDeSantis!&#8221;
Media columnist and Fox News contributor Joe Concha said that &#8220;this was the knockout of any chance Gavin Newsom had at national office.&#8221;
&#8220;Simple reason: It is impossible to escape or defend the state of California under his leadership,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Highest taxes in the country. Highest poverty rate in the country. Highest homeless rate in the country. Highest exodus rate in the country. If given the choice between the country being Florida or California, it&#8217;s not even remotely close, even for many Democrats. Newsom&#8217;s charisma or looks can&#8217;t defend the facts on the ground. Plain and simple.&#8221;
Other notable tweets included:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
All <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GavinNewsom</a> can do is put out talking points with nothing behind them. He is STRUGGLING!!!!
&mdash; Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomiLahren/status/1730418954319901105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Not even a question. DeSantis beat Newsom into a hole in the ground. This was that &quot;moment&quot; that every candidate wants, but DeSantis had a series of those moments tonight. Just an epic contrast of freedom vs statism on display.
&mdash; Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) <a href="https://twitter.com/DLoesch/status/1730432784139686378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Gavin Newsom’s arrogance and outright hubris caused him to fall into the most obvious trap in modern political history. Sean Hannity played the long game, convinced Newsom they’re buddies, lured him into this debate, and then presented objective facts and figures on his failed… <a href="https://t.co/kEUrmHdMX6">pic.twitter.com/kEUrmHdMX6</a>
&mdash; Houman David Hemmati, MD, PhD (@houmanhemmati) <a href="https://twitter.com/houmanhemmati/status/1730420849394798992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I have no idea why Newsom agreed to this. I think he thought he could talk his way out of this, but having Hannity frame the issues with actual data just makes him seem like he&#39;s lying. It&#39;s also weird that he keeps trying to use questionable attacks from the right that he…
&mdash; AG (@AGHamilton29) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGHamilton29/status/1730416628590919841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
DeSantis is showing what happens when he&#39;s not competing with 5 other people polling at 3% for time.
&mdash; Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) <a href="https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/1730409225954656596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2023</a></blockquote>

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‘Epic Contrast Between Freedom Vs Statism’: Commentators Weigh In On DeSantis, Newsom Debate

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— Analysis —

‘Epic Contrast Between Freedom Vs Statism’: Commentators Weigh In On DeSantis, Newsom Debate