Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom are two prominent US governors who represent opposite ends of the political spectrum. DeSantis is a Republican who leads Florida, a conservative-leaning state that has resisted strict Covid-19 measures and championed individual freedoms through a war on cancel culture. Newsom is a Democrat who governs California, a liberal-leaning state that has imposed strict Covid-19 measures and advocated for social justice.
The two governors have clashed over their different approaches to the pandemic, the economy, the environment, immigration, and other issues. They have also been touted as potential presidential candidates for their respective parties in 2024 or 2028.
In short, they are on opposite ends of the political spectrum and have been feuding for over two years.
Tonight they will engage in a presidential-style debate hosted by Fox News and moderated by Sean Hannity.
The showdown is titled “DeSantis vs. Newsom: The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate.” It takes place in northern Georgia, in Alpharetta, which is part of metropolitan Atlanta. Georgia, once a deep-red state, has become a top general election battleground between the two major political parties.
DeSantis is openly running as a candidate for the GOP nomination, Newsom is widely believed to be running a “shadow” campaign for the Democratic nomination.
Their animosity is out in the open. “He caters to a very far-left slice of the electorate. I think that will be on display when we have the debate,” DeSantis said as he spoke with Fox News Digital last week on the presidential campaign trail.
Newsom, in a recent appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity,” said of DeSantis: “I don’t like people who demonize other people or go after vulnerable communities. I also don’t like liars.”
DeSantis, who started out as the great hope to oust Donald Trump from the throne of the far-right electorate, has fallen farther and farther behind in the polls and is now battling Nikki Haley for second place. It’s still highly unlikely that anyone will beat Trump for the nomination.
President Biden’s poll numbers are almost at their lowest point since the beginning of his term. To say that he is vulnerable is an understatement. Will he pull out at the last minute? This may be what Newsom is hoping for and is jockeying for the position of first contender.
Newsom has repeatedly shot down speculation that he would run for the White House next year should something happen to Biden, but a well-publicized trip by the California governor to Israel and China last month sparked speculation about his possible 2024 ambitions.
DeSantis, speaking with Fox News Digital, is crowing: “I’ve been warning Republican voters … it may not be Biden in 2024.”
The DeSantis campaign argues that the debate “will be the first chance for Republicans to contrast our vision for the future of the country with the failed agenda of someone who very well could become the Democrats’ nominee.”
A debate between candidates who occupy opposite ends of the political spectrum may turn out to be a little like comparing apples to oranges. For a debate to be successful and revealing there needs to be at least some common ground, but DeSantis is hoping this may finally be his break-out moment and Newsom his ”meet-cute” with the voters that he is courting.
In any case, given their long-standing sniping at each other, it promises to be lively and entertaining.
