DeSantis is actually a pretty sharp policy guy. However, calm and reasonable are not two attributes I would associate with him.
The general campaign atmospherics have shifted a bit since DeSantis started down this "debate Newsom" road. DeSantis's campaign strategy was originally based on the idea that he was going to be the King Of Anti-woke so any head-on with Newsom is an area where he would shine. Not saying that approach does not still have some legs but even his own supporters and donors fault him increasingly for being a one-trick pony. It's still okay for some applause and support but a bit past its prime too. DeSantis has been off thinking about Disney and drag queens for the last couple years. Not sure how he can handle himself if someone asks how he thinks China's deteriorating economy will impact Taiwan. We had a little taste of that early on when someone asked him where he stood on Ukraine and he flopped something out that only got a two on the meter so he re-spun it for days to come. womp womp.
Truthfully though, I don't yet understand what the pretext of the debate is. Is it a proxy debate on the presidential campaign or is it just two governors talking about state issues? Not knowing that, I don't yet know what issues are or are not on the table potentially. Newsom has been going around the country speaking as just a dem surrogate for campaign 2024. If that is his capacity in the Hannity appearance then he should be confronted with non-state issues as well.
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