At the GOP presidential debate on Wednesday night, moderator Dana Perino channeled the TV show “Survivor,” asking the candidates who “should be voted off the island.” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ripped the question, eliciting applause, saying it was disrespectful to the candidates on stage and a distraction from talking about the future of the country, while former New Jersey governor Chris Christie bluntly stated it should be former President Trump, since he had not shown enough respect for GOP voters to show up.
“It’s now obvious that if you all stay in the race, former President Trump wins the nomination,” Perino stated, referring to the fact that so many candidates were splitting the vote. “None of you have indicated that you’re dropping out. So which one of you on stage tonight should be voted off the island? Please use your marker to write on the notepad in front of you. 15 seconds, starting now. Of the people on the stage, who should be — I’m absolutely serious.”
“With all due respect, we’re here. We’re happy to debate,” DeSantis declared. “I think that’s disrespectful to my fellow competitors. Let’s talk about the future of the country.”
“If you won’t answer that question, let me ask you this one,” Perino persisted. “What is your mathematical path, Governor DeSantis, in order to try to beat President Trump, who has a commanding and enduring lead in this race?”
“Polls don’t elect presidents. Voters elect presidents,” DeSantis asserted. “And we’re gonna take the case to the people in these early states. We’re gonna do it in a state by state direction, and why? Because as Reagan said in his day, ‘This is our time for choosing.’ We are not getting a mulligan on the 2024 election; Republicans have lost three straight elections in a row; we were supposed to have a red wave with inflation at 9%; it crashed and burned. Not in Florida, it didn’t; we delivered in Florida. And so we’ve gotta choose right; we’ve gotta win.”
Co-moderator Stuart Varney then turned to Christie, remarking that he did see Christie write something down.
“No, but I’ll certainly tell you,” Christie said, as the audience laughed. “Look: I think I’ve been the only one on this stage who’s been clear about this: I vote Donald Trump off the island right now. And the reason I vote him off the island: Every person on this stage has shown the respect for Republican voters to come here and express their views honestly, candidly, and directly, and to take your questions honestly. I have respect for every man and woman on this stage —”
Seeing Vivek Ramaswamy trying to interrupt, Christie said, “Vivek, put your hand down for a moment, would you,” eliciting laughter, then continued, “I still got time, dude.”
“Look, this guy (Trump) has not only divided our party, he’s divided families all over this country, he’s divided friends all over this country … he needs to be voted off this island and he needs to be taken out of this process,” he concluded.
Ramaswamy did not answer Perino’s question, instead praising Trump and saying the America First agenda “does not belong to one man.”