The team for California Governor Gavin Newsom appears agitated that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis accepted his debate challenge.
Newsom had sought to raise his national profile for months by attacking the now-Republican presidential candidate and has repeatedly challenged him to debate.
During an interview on Fox News with Sean Hannity in June, Newsom said that he was “all in” to debate, that he could go for up to three hours, and he only needed “one day’s notice with no notes.”
DeSantis accepted the debate challenge this week during an interview with Hannity. “Let’s get it done,” DeSantis said. “Just tell me when and where we’ll do it.”
The proposal that Newsom sent to Fox News makes the first date that he is available to debate three months out, contrary to his claim that he only needed “one day’s notice.”
In their separate proposals, both sides have agreed:
- Hannity is the moderator.
- The debate lasts 90 minutes.
- No help from staff.
- Both governors get equal speaking time.
- Governors are not allowed to interrupt each other.
- Closing statements are two minutes long.
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Where the governors disagree:
- DeSantis does not want any opening remarks and instead proposes that each governor can submit a two-minute video that would be aired before the event.
- Newsom does not want an audience, while DeSantis does and proposed splitting tickets evenly.
- The two proposed different states for the event — with Georgia being the only state the sides have in common.
- DeSantis proposed much earlier dates for the debate, but also included a late date that matches the earliest date that Newsom offered.
Newsom’s team, apparently unable to handle a live audience, lashed out at DeSantis when they saw his debate proposal.
“What a joke,” said a Newsom spokesperson to POLITICO. “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.”
“Ron should be able to stand on his own two feet,” he added. “It’s no wonder Trump is kicking his a**.”
Most of what Newsom’s team said was false. DeSantis proposed the same length for the debate and the same two-minute closing statements. DeSantis did not propose being able to bring in notes and both sides would be allowed to have fans attend with equal ticket allotment.