A spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) strongly criticized the proposed debate rules put forth by Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-FL) office. The rules were shared in an email sent to Fox News’s Sean Hannity, who has been designated as the debate moderator.
According to Politico, both Newsom and DeSantis agreed that Hannity would be the sole questioner during the debate, and he must ensure that the two governors refrain from interrupting each other. However, disagreements arose on other aspects of the debate.
DeSantis’s team proposed having a live audience, while Newsom preferred an empty room. They also differed on the format of their opening statements, with DeSantis suggesting video presentations instead. Despite these discrepancies, they reached a consensus on holding the debate in Georgia on November 8, pending final confirmation.
In response to the proposed rules, Newsom’s spokesperson, Nathan Click, expressed strong disapproval. He called DeSantis’s counter-proposal a “joke” and accused him of trying to conceal his insecurity and incompetence by incorporating various conditions, such as swapping opening statements for a hype video and limiting his time on stage. Click also took a jab at DeSantis’s association with former President Donald Trump, suggesting that the former president is overshadowing DeSantis.
While DeSantis’s office did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment, the Florida governor recently agreed to the debate after Newsom suggested it nearly a year prior during a segment of Hannity’s show.
The upcoming debate holds significance, especially for DeSantis, who is running for president in the 2024 Republican primary against a field of twelve other candidates. He is considered one of the top contenders alongside former President Donald Trump. On the other hand, Newsom’s intentions regarding the Democratic nomination are yet to be formally announced, but there has been speculation about his potential aspirations for the White House.