It may not have the historic impact of Nixon v. Kennedy, or deliver the memorable lines of Carter v. Reagan, or even Bentsen “You’re no Jack Kennedy” v. Quayle.
In fact, one of the debaters insists he isn’t even running for president, though no one believes him. The other is indeed running — but so far behind his party’s leader in the polls many don’t believe him either.
Nevertheless, ladies and gentlemen, we present “DeSantis vs. Newsom: The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate,” coming Thursday evening to your cable TV screen or radio hosted and moderated by Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity.
Why are we having this debate?
A fair question, given California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis aren’t running against each other for the nation’s highest office, at least not yet.
Newsom has repeatedly insisted he’s not seeking the Democratic Party’s 2024 presidential nomination, has not filed papers to do so and has said he supports the re-election of President Joe Biden and fellow Californian and political ally Vice President Kamala Harris.
DeSantis announced his candidacy for the Republican Party nomination in May, but though he’s consistently out-polled most other Republican contenders, former President Donald Trump still dominates the GOP field. An average of the most recent national Republican Primary polls by FiveThirtyEight puts Trump at nearly 59% and DeSantis at 13%, a figure that has shrunk since the Florida governor’s campaign announcement.
But Sonoma State University Political Science Professor David McCuan said the face-off offers a window into each party’s potential future. Both Newsom and D
eSantis figure to remain important figures in their parties as popular big-state governors.
“This debate is all about who and what comes next for each party,” McCuan said. “It should be fascinating — and when is the last time we said that about a political debate?”
What are the stakes?
Claremont…
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