2024 Presidential Campaign Blog

ABC News and WMUR-TV To Hold Republican Presidential Primary Debate at Saint Anselm College

ABC News and WMUR-TV To Hold Republican Presidential Primary Debate at Saint Anselm College

The Debate, in Coordination With the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, Will Take Place on Thursday, Jan. 18

 

ABC News, with WMUR-TV, is set to hold a Republican presidential primary debate on Thursday, Jan. 18, at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. The debate will be held in coordination with the New Hampshire Republican State Committee and will come just days after the Iowa caucuses, as attention turns to the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary the following week.

 

“ABC News is excited to host this Republican debate with our partners in the nation’s first primary state of New Hampshire,” said ABC News President Kim Godwin. “Our powerhouse political team has been working hard on this debate to provide our audience with the opportunity to hear from the candidates at this decisive moment in the primary race.”

 

“WMUR has a long history of producing debates in New Hampshire and doing them right. ABC News has been our strongest partner, and we look forward to a successful New Hampshire Primary Debate with them and our other 2024 debate partners,” said Andrew Vrees, president and general manager of WMUR-TV.

 

“The New Hampshire Institute of Politics and Saint Anselm College are delighted to continue the long-standing tradition of partnering with ABC News and WMUR-TV in hosting the New Hampshire primary debate,” said Neil Levesque, executive director of New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College. “On the eve of the New Hampshire primary, presidential candidates of both parties have graced our campus and made their case ever since 2008 and in every presidential cycle since then as voters here are about to cast their votes.”

 

“The New Hampshire Republican State Committee is looking forward to working with our partners at ABC News, WMUR and St. Anselm’s College for a New Hampshire Republican presidential primary debate subject to RNC guidelines,” said Chris Ager, chairman of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee.

 

More details about the debate, format, qualifications, moderators, as well as ABC News’ coverage will be announced at a later time.

 

RELEASE: WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: DeSantis “Won the Night” with his “Best Debate to Date”

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: DeSantis “Won the Night” with his “Best Debate to Date”
“Ron DeSantis clearly won tonight's debate.” “Clear Winner.” “Assertive.” “He delivered.” “Drew loud cheers.”

Campaign Manager James Uthmeier: Ron DeSantis did exactly what he had to do tonight. He showed up. He's a fighter. We know that but he's a fighter and he wins. This is yet another debate victory for him. And for him, he wins not just because he's strong and principled, he doesn't waver and give different answers based on what state or audience he's visiting, what day of the week it is, he is principled. He sticks to his guns. And then he has the record of results.

Senior Advisor David Polyansky: When the lights were brightest tonight, @RonDeSantis delivered. Nikki Haley withered.

Campaign Manager James Uthmeier: Ron DeSantis won tonight. He's won every debate so far. He continues to get stronger, and he's got the record of wins to prove that he can do the job when he gets to the White House.

Iowa State Senator Dan Zumbach: Ron DeSantis has a group of folks that are standing behind that will go to the caucus will support it will caucus for men will vote for I think the vote there pulling a lot of people that are just trump, people that aren't necessarily clock scores. I think the polls are inaccurate.

Iowa Voter Deborah: He’s got executive experience and a record of winning — and that’s the most important thing... DeSantis is convincing voters with policy and a record.
Mark Levin: The winner of last night’s debate is right. The media are pushing hard for Haley, as are the Wall Street billionaires and RINO establishment. But nobody is buying this.

Bill O’Reilly: The winner of the debate...was DeSantis...DeSantis tapped into the emotion that Republican voters are feeling... Haley came across as an Establishment figure. She’s distant. She’s not a culture warrior.

Terry Sullivan: I agree with the governor that DeSantis had his strongest night last night.

Josh Holmes: I thought Ron DeSantis did a very nice job of translating conservative anxieties into accomplishments that he had already done in Florida.

CNN Panel: This was an example of Haley receding a little bit in a way that I don’t think really helped her... DeSantis did well.

Dan Bongino: Who won? I think DeSantis won.

Abby Philip: We do have to give DeSantis some credit. He had a very strong debate.

Chris Cuomo: DeSantis gave a voice to an issue in America…that I have not heard from any of these candidates on the other side until the way he said it tonight.

Philadelphia Radio Host Dom Giordano: Ron DeSantis clearly won tonight's debate.

Glenn Beck: I thought [DeSantis] put in a very strong performance last night.

Scott Jennings: DeSantis churns out solid, Republican conservative content on virtually every question. He did not bobble a single question tonight.

Jason Chaffetz: I think Ron DeSantis by far had the best debate. I think he is still head and shoulders over anybody else up on that debate stage. I think more people in the country want to be like Florida. They want the electoral success that Ron DeSantis had in turning a purple state red. But they also want to be like Florida, they like their tax scheme, the regulatory, everything about Florida. That’s why I think Ron DeSantis won the debate and is winning on the people that watched that debate.”

Scott Walker: I think there's no doubt about it. [DeSantis] had a good one.

Mark Tepper: Ron DeSantis was the clear winner.

RealClearPolitics: Fresh off an exhibition debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and sensing a threat in Haley, a more aggressive DeSantis was in evidence than the man who had appeared at the previous debates...DeSantis did not fade, like some of his supporters have complained of in his previous outings, and instead demonstrated the pugilism that made him famous during the pandemic.

Politico: Ron DeSantis had his best debate performance of the cycle

Washington Times: This was probably [DeSantis’] best debate to date

The Hill: The Florida governor had arguably his strongest debate performance so far during the primary cycle, taking an active role in the conversation throughout the night and landing attacks on multiple opponents.

Fits News: DeSantis chimed in frequently, earning one of the night’s biggest applause bursts when he said about children having gender-changing surgery, “You do not have the right to abuse your kids. This is mutilating these minors; these are irreversible procedures.”

Wall Street Journal: DeSantis hit the most consistently conservative points, including the cultural issues animating the party, blasting “gender mutilation” for minors.

ABC: DeSantis made the case that he's got a conservative track record full of election victories and policy wins.

Newsweek: DeSantis appeared assertive throughout the night, and was quick to jump on Haley with any chance he was given. Cheers from the crowd also appeared to pick up throughout the debate for the Florida governor, and he was quick to put to bed any doubts about his campaign

AP: DeSantis drew loud cheers when he said parents “do not have the right to abuse” their kids in response to Christie’s remarks about signing legislation as governor of New Jersey to provide guidance for schools to protect transgender students.

Washington Examiner: Of the candidates onstage, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) came out best, with a smooth performance that stayed relatively above the fray and seemed to connect with the Alabama audience.

Washington Post: He delivered a crisp and even performance, making no notable mistakes and repeatedly putting Haley on defense on issues such as her encouragement of investment from China when she was governor of South Carolina.

New York Times: [DeSantis] delivered what many observed was his strongest performance to date, pressing Ms. Haley on her Wall Street donors and ties to corporate America while easily fending off his other foes.

Politico: DeSantis won

National Review: It was DeSantis’s best primary-debate performance by far.

The Hill: This was clearly the Florida governor’s best debate performance so far — and one that delivered a boost to his campaign just when it was most needed.

Hillsdale's Kirstin Kiledal: [DeSantis] more than any others had a bit of that story that’s so important to gaining a sense of authenticity and credibility. He had people and names and places and examples of work that he had done where he had been successful, over and over again.

Ron Brownstein: FWIW, thought that was DeSantis' best #debate

CNN to Host Republican Presidential Primary Debates in Iowa and New Hampshire

CNN TO HOST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATES IN IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

Republican Presidential Primary Debate from Des Moines, Iowa Airs on January 10

 

Republican Presidential Primary Debate from Goffstown, New Hampshire Airs on January 21

 

Debates to Air Live on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español and CNN Max

Washington, DC – (December, 7, 2023) – CNN will host Republican presidential primary debates next month in Iowa and New Hampshire – home to the first contests that kick-off the race for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. 

 

The first CNN debate will take place January 10, 2024 at Drake University in Des Moines, less than one week before Iowa caucus-goers weigh in on the Republican presidential race. The second CNN debate will be held on January 21 at St. Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire. Both debates will air live on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español and CNN Max. 

 

To qualify for participation in CNN’s Iowa debate, candidates must receive at least 10% in three separate national and/or Iowa polls of Republican caucusgoers or primary voters that meet CNN’s standards for reporting. One of the three polls must be an approved CNN poll of likely Iowa Republican caucusgoers.

 

To qualify for participation in CNN’s Hampshire debate, candidates must receive at least 10% in three separate national and/or New Hampshire polls of Republican primary voters that meet CNN’s standards for reporting. One of the three polls must be an approved CNN poll of likely New Hampshire Republican primary voters. 

 

The qualifying window for the Iowa debate closes on January 2 and the New Hampshire debate qualifying period ends on January 16. Candidates who finish in one of the top three positions in the Iowa caucuses will receive an invitation to participate in the New Hampshire debate.  

 

CNN’s Republican Presidential Debates will stream live on CNN Max and for pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN connected TV and mobile apps. The debates will also be available On Demand beginning Thursday, January 11 and Monday, January 22 to pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN apps, and Cable Operator Platforms.

Release: Haley Won Debate #4

Iowa Voters: Haley Won Debate #4

NEVADA, Iowa — After every presidential debate, CNN talks to a panel of eight Republican Iowa voters about who won and why.
Last night, Nikki Haley won the panel with six votes. Trump and DeSantis received one vote apiece. Watch below.

“Who thinks Christie won the debate? Zero of the eight. Who thinks DeSantis won the debate? One of the eight. Who thinks Haley won the debate? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Who thinks Ramaswamy won the debate? Zero.”

“We have six people here who've picked Haley. So that's the second time Haley’s won a commanding victory this time in the four debates we’ve been here.”

“I expected her to take a lot of hits tonight and the debate started with them coming after her and I think she handled it really well. I think she also just is strong on policy.”

“She had to dodge a lot of bullets tonight and she stood up to each one of them.”

“I think people shoot arrows at the people that are winning. And I think she's winning.”

“Every hit that she took, she had a response back.”

“Everyone was after her tonight in the debate. And I think she handled that with grace and charisma and was the most level-headed and stuck to her guns.”

“Her foreign policy experience really showing through strong tonight. And the fact that she's been a governor too, so she's got that legislative experience too, working with the legislators in South Carolina. So I think she shined among them all.”

RELEASE: WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: DeSantis Wins 4th Debate

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: DeSantis Wins 4th Debate
“DeSantis killed it.” “Bringing the fire tonight.” “DeSantis’ best debate by far.” “DeSantis is taking over this debate.” “Clearly the best.”

Campaign Manager James Uthmeier: Ron DeSantis did exactly what he had to do tonight. He showed up. He's a fighter. We know that but he's a fighter and he wins. This is yet another debate victory for him. And for him, he wins not just because he's strong and principled, he doesn't waver and give different answers based on what state or audience he's visiting, what day of the week it is, he is principled. He sticks to his guns. And then he has the record of results.

Michael Brendan Dougherty: DeSantis’ best debate. Not sure the dynamics will change. Hard to know whether the live audience matters anymore in a time of viral clip sharing.
Matt Walsh: This was the best debate for Ron DeSantis.

Dan McLaughlin: DeSantis closes with his strongest suit: he’ll fight, he won’t back down from any battles, he’s the guy who will stand in and take it.
Alex Salvi: This is DeSantis’s best debate. This is Haley’s worst debate.

Erick Erickson: I think the debate was DeSantis’s strongest and Haley’s weakest. I think all the attacks on Haley show she has momentum, but under the weight of them she underperformed. Christie continues to give the clearest answers to the questions.

Scott Jennings: DeSantis scored points on transgender surgeries for minors ... controlled that conversation and dunked on Christie. #GOPDebate

Clay Travis: My biggest takeaways from tonight’s debate: 1. Vivek and Nikki really hate each other. 2. This was Nikki Haley’s worst debate so far. 3. Chris Christie looks like he’s going to endorse Nikki when he drops out. 4. This was Desantis’s best debate.

Miranda Devine: Winner: DeSantis. Above the fray, increasingly surefooted, most applauded;

Kim Reynolds: .@RonDeSantis proves again that he’s focused, knows how to fight for our values, and delivers on his promises. He’s the most effective leader I’ve seen, and he showed that tonight.

Megan Basham: DeSantis did the most good for his campaign tonight and NewsNation is unquestionably the big winner. By far the best debate because the moderators actually asked about issues that the Republican base care about. Big question, why didn't Fox do this when they had a chance?

Jenna Ellis: DEBATE RECAP: Ron DeSantis was the clear and runaway winner. The GOP could not ask for a better, more solid conservative candidate who UNDERSTANDS and IMPLEMENTS and racks up WINS. Vivek Ramaswamy spoke uncomfortable truth. Nikki Haley was absolutely CRUSHED and destroyed. Christie rightly called out Trump for running a campaign on retribution... but while running a campaign on retribution against Trump.

Curtis Houck: "I signed it, you didn't." Results. #GOPDebate

Kaitlan Collins: DeSantis “had a stronger debate than what we’ve seen him do in the last debates”

Abby Phillip: We do have to give DeSantis some credit; he had a very strong debate

Scott Jennings: DeSantis churns out solid Republican, conservative content on virtually every question

Matt Walsh: Nikki Haley repeats the Left’s framing of Florida’s parental rights legislation, calling it the “don’t say gay” bill

Dana Loesch: DeSantis has won two debates two weeks in a row now. His biggest asset is his record.

Will Cain: That was the strongest moment of any debate for DeSantis.

Rep. Skyler Wheeler: “I don’t think men should be going into little girl’s bathrooms.” @RonDeSantis Best debate for him by far. These are issues that he is dominant on.
Daniel Horowitz: Ron getting to the core that there is a subculture that undergirds the terrorism. Let's stop talking around it.

Bob Vander Plaats: Best line of the night so far is from @RonDeSantis, “Voters make the decisions, not polls.” #ChooseWell2024

Bill O’Reilly: .@RonDeSantis is winning the debate. My staff is checking the @NikkiHaley "wealth" situation and we'll have it tomorrow. #GOPDebate @NewsNation

Kellie Meyer: DEBATE 🧵 Loudest cheers inside the debate hall for DeSantis. Then Haley. Then Vivek. Then Christie. @NewsNation

Erick Erickson: DeSantis wins the debate with Calvin Coolidge, the best President.

Charlie Kirk: DeSantis is going full attack mode against Nikki Haley. He's calling her bought and paid for. He's saying she'll cave to her donors and go soft on China. He's not holding back. He is going right at the Koch-centric bought and paid for agenda. Wherever you are on DeSantis, this is good for the conservative movement.

Julia Johnson: HUGE applause for DeSantis pointing out "you don't have the right to abuse your kids" as Christie equates legislation on transgender surgeries on children with a slippery slope intervening on parental rights

Jordan Schachtel: Man, DeSantis is taking over this debate. Poised and targeted strikes. Has Nikki in a full meltdown.

Susan Crabtree: DeSantis is bringing the fire tonight.

Bobby Burack: Ron DeSantis has impressed the past two GOP debates and debate with Newsom. Of the four on stage-- and I find two of them nauseating--he is clearly the best.

Joel Pollak: .@DeSantis calls what the DOJ did to Trump with the "Russia collusion" investigation "one of the biggest abuses of power in the history of our country." Absolutely

Dr. Cody Hoefert: Everything Haley says about @RonDeSantis on every issue he just stands there and says yep and I signed that bill. It’s the difference between talking and action…..the difference between leadership and speeches. #GOPDebate

Bob Vander Plaats: I’m biased because I’ve endorsed @RonDeSantis That said, this is a really tough night for @NikkiHaley I’m sure there will be a lot of fact checking but the soundbites coming out of this debate are brutal.

Dana Loesch: "Aa a parent, you do not have the right to abuse your kids" -- DeSantis on medical mutilation of minors. Haley says that she didn't say this

Marc Caputo: ...DeSantis’s best debate. To the degree he needed to have a moment and stop Haley from standing out, tonight did it

Michael Duncan: DeSantis killed it on the student loan answer. Great stuff. #GOPDebate

David Drucker: TUSCALOOSA, AL — @RonDeSantis owned the second segment of the @NewsNation debate w/ solid answers on the border security & the economy. His team has to be pleased.

Megan Basham: DeSantis to Haley--"I signed a bathroom bill keeping boys out of girls bathrooms. You did not. I protected girls. You did not." 🔥🔥🔥

Scott Morefield: Ron DeSantis gives Nikki Haley the Gavin Newsom treatment on China, then brilliantly defends her attempt to hit back. A total slam dunk. My goodness.

Steve Deace: Ron clearly won that exchange on China with Haley, who also directly went after Trump in a debate for the first time in a debate I can remember.

Curtis Houck: .@RonDeSantis wasn't rattled and clearly won this exchange. To argue he's not tough on China when he's been saying for years the Chinese Communist Party is America's biggest threat is ludicrous. Also, anytime you brag about having Wall Street donors is MAJOR cringe #GOPDebate

Matt Whitlock: When people found out what this bill actually did (and that “don’t say gay” was an outrageous lie) they overwhelmingly supported it - across the political spectrum.

Steve Deace: Great answer on the border by DeSantis. Loved the analogy of filtering through Iraqis in “man dresses” as similar to filtering through the crowd at the border.
Scott Jennings: I thought DeSantis handled the opening broadside from Megyn Kelly pretty well. She hammered him for like 5 minutes. #GOPDebate

Marc Caputo: DeSantis on using deadly force to stop border crossers: “I am not going to sit there and allow mothers to lose more kids because of fentanyl overdoses. I am not going to sit there and let set trafficking go unabated or human trafficking go unabated.”

Jenna Ellis: Nikki Haley outright lied about DeSantis, who did not support or push the legislation that would have punished bloggers who critiqued Florida’s government. That was crafted by A LEGISLATOR, not DeSantis.

Joel Pollak: .@RonDeSantis argues that the U.S. should stop trying to patrol the Israeli response to Hamas and simply support its war effort, plus pressure Iran economically

Steve Deace: Great point by DeSantis on the Founding Fathers needing anonymity.

Dana Loesch: Good answer from DeSantis. What people have to understand is that it’s all about the delegate race right now in these early states.

Julia Manchester: DeSantis noting his past military service in the Middle East when addressing the Israel-Hamas War: "I understand that part of the world."

Curtis Houck: Great answer from @RonDeSantis about Orwellian requirements to participate in the public square. #GOPDebate

Mary Margaret Olohan: DeSantis slams Haley for her remark: “I think the law should stay out of it and parents should handle it" in reference to kids and trans procedures.

DeSantis: "You can't stand against child abuse, how are you going to be able to stand up for anything?"

Bobby Burack: Ron DeSantis has impressed the past two GOP debates and debate with Newsom. Of the four on stage-- and I find two of them nauseating--he is clearly the best.

Jordan Schachtel: DeSantis has taken over. I am a biased observer but IMO he’s sweeping the floor with these opponents.

Scott Jennings: DeSantis is delivering some solid content. He's not the center of attention, but he's been solid on each policy topic and the student loan turn was sharp. #GOPDebate

Dr. Abby Johnson: One thing is clear: Every single time DeSantis steps up to the debate stage, he proves that he is perfectly fit and prepared for this moment. He would, without question, be a fantastic President.

Release: Christie Super PAC Debate Statement: Only One Candidate On That Stage Offered A Clear Vision For The Future

Christie Super PAC Debate Statement: Only One Candidate On That Stage Offered A Clear Vision For The Future

ARLINGTON, VA — Bill Palatucci, Chairman of Tell It Like It Is PAC, issued the following statement after the fourth Republican presidential debate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama:

“Republican voters had a clear choice tonight between three candidates auditioning to become Donald Trump’s running mate, and Chris Christie, who offered a bold and unequivocal break from the status quo. Chris Christie is the only one with the vision for the future, a record of conservative accomplishments and the willingness to speak truth about the state of the party. A nomination of Trump or someone in his mold ensures another four years of Joe Biden as president, and that is something America cannot afford.”

Below is a sampling of what others are saying about Chris Christie’s debate performance:

Geraldo Rivera: Governor Christie just took Ramaswamy to school over his wretched manners. Dude is really obnoxious…

Shawna Mizelle, CBS News: Chris Christie calls out Trump, saying the former president doesn't "have the guts to show up" on the debate stage. "He is unfit to be president," Christie says.

Blake Burman, NewsNation: Chris Christie notes it has been 17 minutes and the other three candidates haven't mentioned Donald Trump. @NewsNation

Marc Caputo: Chris Christie, acting as a sort of narrator-participant in the debate, chides DeSantis for giving a “hosanna” about his military service & not saying if he would use American military power to rescue U.S hostages in Gaza. Christie said he would

Ellen Carmichael: Christie has been great on Trump. It’s very necessary.

John Avlon, CNN: Christie having a very strong debate tonight out of the gate

Michael Duncan, Ruthless Podcast: Christie just owned Vivek lmao #GOPDebate

Seth Mandel: Christie made Vivek mad by murdering him

Scott Jennings: Chris Christie -- bravo #GOPDebate

Reagan Reese, Daily Caller: Christie really getting how he feels about DeSantis and Ramaswamy's previous debate performances off his chest tonight. The former NJ Gov says this would be the fourth debate in a row that Ramaswamy would be the "most obnoxious blow hard" in the first 20 minutes.

Heather Nauert: Rude. Obnoxious. Insulting. Inaccurate. He doesn’t know anything about the issues. Give @VivekGRamaswamy a reality show and let’s be done w it. Thanks, @GovChristie for calling it as it is.

Jacob Kornbluh, The Forward: This is Chris Christie’s best debate ever. That showdown with Vivek..

Robert Costa, CBS News: Christie: "I'm not done yet..." Tearing into Vivek Ramaswamy , calling him the "most obnoxious blowhard in America"

Grace Kazarian, CBS News: At the fourth GOP debate, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called Trump "a dictator." "He is unfit," Christie said of the former president.

Heath Mayo, Principles First: The exchange right now between Chris Christie and Ron DeSantis is highlighting PERFECTLY the difference between principled courage and cowardice. This is the debate the party needs. And Christie’s answer is the only correct one. He is doing the country a service right now.

Stephanie Murray, The Messenger: The "day one" dictator question goes to Chris Christie. "There's no mystery to what he wants to do," Christie says. "He started off his campaign by saying I am your retribution ... This is an angry bitter man." Christie notes his rivals said they'd support Trump if convicted

Ellen Carmichael: Christie is 100% right.

Alyssa Farah Griffin: Chris Christie showed up tonight. He clearly sees the window closing to stop Trump and isn’t holding back. Well done, @GovChristie.

David Drucker, The Dispatch: TUSCALOOSA, AL — "This is an angry bitter man." - Governor Christie, the only candidate who is comfortable speaking about TRUMP's ethical issues and questionable behavior, and does it with pure ease.

Adam Kinzinger: Tonight’s winner is Governor Christie walking away. Again the other three ignored that Trump even exists

Michael Steele, Former RNC Chairman: One can only take but so much: Governor Christie nails Vivek Ramaswamy "Let me tell you something, this is the fourth debate that you would be voted in the first 20 minutes as the most obnoxious blowhard in America. So shut up for a little while."

Jeff Blehar, National Review: Christie is actually at his most effective when he soberly just calls out Trump like this. Doesn’t raise his voice. This is what makes him a skillful debater. His Trump segment was probably the best of his entire campaign.

Stephanie Murray, The Messenger: Chris Christie knocks Nikki Haley for saying Donald Trump was good on trade earlier tonight. "He wasn't," Christie says. "You can't say he was good on trade because he didn't change one Chinese policy in the process. He failed on it."

Release: Never Back Down Issues Statement on Gov. DeSantis’ Debate Night Victory

RELEASE: Never Back Down Issues Statement on Gov. DeSantis’ Debate Night Victory

ATLANTA, Ga. - Never Back Down Chairman Scott Wagner issued the following statement after the GOP primary debate in Tuscaloosa:

“Ron DeSantis proved tonight why the Media, the Left, and the Establishment fear him most. His decisive debate victory shows exactly why he’s perfectly positioned to take on Trump, be the Republican nominee, soundly defeat Joe Biden, and deliver for the American people.

DeSantis wins without sacrificing principled leadership — he doesn’t bend the knee to Wall Street donors or D.C. ruling class elites — and he consistently delivers result after result. Governor DeSantis has shown the strength and courage to not only take on the big fights for conservatives but also to win for the people. He’s surged Florida’s economy, backed the blue and drove crime to a 50-year low, protected parents, families, and children against petty tyrants like Anthony Fauci, fought back against woke corporations and bad actors trying to rob our children of their innocence, and proved he’s the only one who can beat the Democrats in a traditional swing state by a historic landslide.

That’s why his support across Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina is catching fire right now aided by the backing of other true conservative leaders like Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds. And that’s why he eviscerated Gavin Newsom last week, everyone else on the stage tonight, and why no one else will defeat Donald Trump and Joe Biden.”

Release: DeSantis: Clear Winner in 4th Primary Debate

DeSantis: Clear Winner in 4th Primary Debate
“DeSantis doesn’t change his principles based on his audience or what big donors think - he’s the principled fighter who delivers results for the American People.”

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Ron DeSantis presented a clear and compelling vision for his presidency in his victory in the Fourth Republican Presidential Primary Debate hosted by NewsNation.

Following the debate, Ron DeSantis for President campaign manager James Uthmeier said:

“Ron DeSantis is the only candidate who will fight, win, and lead our nation’s revival - and tonight’s debate victory made that clear. Tonight, voters saw Ron as the only strong conservative on stage. And unlike Nikki Haley, who caves to the media, CCP, corporate democrats, and supporters of gender mutilation for minors, DeSantis doesn’t change his principles based on his audience or what big donors think - he’s the principled fighter who delivers results for the American People. Ron DeSantis is the strong leader who will lead our party to win again.”

The top moment of the night came when DeSantis said: “If you're not willing to stand up and say that it is wrong to mutilate these kids, then you're not going to fight for the people back home. I will fight for you, and I will win for you.”

“We have a great idea in America that the voters actually make these decisions, not pundits or pollsters. I'm sick of hearing about these polls, because I remember those polls in November of 2022. They said there was going to be a big red wave, it was going to be monumental, and that crashed and burned. The one place that didn't crash and burn was in the state of Florida. They weren't predicting that I would win the way I did, and I won the greatest Republican victory in the history of the state of Florida.
I'm looking forward to Iowa and New Hampshire. The voters are going to be able to speak and we're going to earn this nomination. And here's what we need. I am sick of Republicans who are not willing to stand up and fight back against what the left is doing to this country. You've got to be willing to stand strong, and you've got to be willing to beat these people.

I'm the only one running for president that has beaten these people on issue after issue. We beat the teachers’ unions when we did school choice. We beat Fauci on COVID. We beat George Soros.

What we need for this country, and you have other candidates up here like Nikki Haley. She caves anytime the left comes after her, anytime the media comes after I did a bill in Florida to stop the gender mutilation of minors. It's child abuse, and it's wrong. She opposes that bill.

She thinks it's fine, and the law shouldn't get involved with it. If you're not willing to stand up for the kids - If you're not willing to stand up and say that it is wrong to mutilate these kids, then you're not going to fight for the people back home. I will fight for you, and I will win for you.”

The biggest applause of the night came when DeSantis said: “As a parent, you do not have the right to abuse your kids.”

“As a parent, you do not have the right to abuse your kids. This is mutilating these minors. These are irreversible procedures. And this is something that other countries in Europe like Sweden - Once they started doing it, they saw it did incalculable damage. They've shut it down. I signed legislation in Florida banning the mutilation of minors because it is wrong. We cannot allow this to happen in this country. And I know Chris disagrees with me. And I think he has an honest position. Nikki disagrees with me. She opposes the bill that we did the ban that she said law shouldn't get involved with it.

You said the law shouldn't get involved with it. She also though, I think - And this flows from what she did as governor of South Carolina. You know, they had a bill to try to say that men shouldn't go into girls’ bathrooms. And she killed that bill. And she bragged that she killed that bill. Even to this day she bragged that. I don't think men should be going into little girls’ bathrooms. I think it's wrong. And I think we have every right to protect them from that.”

Republican National Committee (RNC) Announces Participants for Fourth Debate in Alabama

RNC Announces Participants for Fourth Debate in Alabama

WASHINGTON – Today, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced the below Republican primary candidates have met the RNC’s criteria and will participate in the fourth Republican primary debate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on December 6:

Third Republican Primary Debate Participants (Listed in Alphabetical Order)
• Governor Chris Christie
• Governor Ron DeSantis
• Ambassador Nikki Haley
• Vivek Ramaswamy

“The fourth debate is another fantastic opportunity for our Republican candidates to share our winning agenda with the American people. President Reagan was the first sitting president to visit the University of Alabama nearly 40 years ago, just before cruising to a landslide victory in 1984, and I’m thrilled to return our conservative message to Tuscaloosa on Wednesday night.” – RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel

Release: Ron DeSantis Wins Third GOP Debate

Ron DeSantis Wins Third GOP Debate
“WINS the battle.” “Presidential demeanor.” “Really asserted himself.” “Won the debate.”

Daily Mail: Ron DeSantis WINS the battle with Nikki Haley in Daily Mail poll of the battle in the third Republican presidential debate

Shaquille Brewster, MSNBC : In this room full of Iowans who all say they plan to caucus in January, I asked if Kim Reynolds' endorsement earlier this week of Ron DeSantis had any impact on how they're viewing the candidates, specifically Ron DeSantis, and nearly everyone in that room raised their hand and said they view him more favorably. They like their governor. They appreciate the record that she had, and what she has been able to do in this state and they say it is at least making them a little bit more interested in Ron DeSantis. I’ll also say, when I asked should Donald trump be on that stage, that was another moment, one of the few moments you had broad consensus and nearly everyone raised their hand and said they believe he should be on that debate stage.

Lee Carter, Fox News: DeSantis got a “B” from Democrats, Independents a “B” and Republicans an “A.” I think this is shocking to see Democrats give any a Republican an “A.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen it either. I will tell you this, Democrats are tired of TikTok polluting their children’s minds.

Ainsley Earhardt, Fox News: I thought Ron DeSantis did great because he was very measured.

Lawrence Jones, Fox News: It was Ron DeSantis’ best debate performance.

Mornings with Maria Panel: CHERYL: Daily Mail did a quick overnight snap poll .. it was who won the debate. 56% said DeSantis, 35% said Nikki Haley. But who can beat Trump? They said DeSantis 53%, Haley 29%. They actually came in with commentary and said that DeSantis based on what we just listened to about how he would handle Israel. he came across this quote unquote, presidential.
MARIA: He did well on that for sure.
TIARA: It was definitely a cleaner performance from DeSantis.

Marissa Parra, MSNBC: I do notice among veterans there have a particular amount of support for DeSantis, fellow veteran himself. What I thought was interesting last night, we had a watch party, a local gop debate watch party, and I talked to the room, I made my rounds around the room, and once again we found exactly the same, most of the room seemed to be behind DeSantis or Trump.

Faulkner Focus Voter Panel: VOTER: I feel that DeSantis really asserted himself and he gave presidential demeanor to him...I think DeSantis really did assert himself and looked the most presidential on stage yesterday.

Ainsley Earhardt, Fox News: Ron DeSantis, how about this line … He said if someone in a drug cartel is sneaking fentanyl in across the border that’s going to be the last thing they do. We are going to shoot them stone cold dead.

Brian Kilmeade, Fox News: The Governor just comes off competent. The criticism on him, I have no problem with – oh, he’s got to smile and be warmer … he wants to solve your problems. He does go in there, what is the problem? I want to solve it .. Here’s the issue here’s how to handle it.

Fox News Panel: EARHARDT: [DeSantis] talked about Trump, he said he always says you’re going to be sick of winning. He said, well we saw last night, talking about the elections in Virginia and elsewhere, I am sick of Republicans losing.
DOOCY: It was a good line.
EARHARDT: It was.

Matt Whitlock: Ron DeSantis has a plan to modernize the navy down to the number of ships he wants to build. Donald Trump could never.