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DeSantis grappled during 2018 debate prep with how not to 'piss off' Trump voters, recordings obtained by ABC News show
CNN ^ | Updated 3:03 PM EDT, Sun May 07, 2023 | By Kyle Blaine,

Posted on 05/07/2023 6:13:40 PM PDT by conservative98

Ron DeSantis grappled with how not to "piss off" then-President Donald Trump's voters during 2018 debate preparation sessions in his first campaign for Florida governor, according to videos obtained by ABC News.

In the videos, the then-congressman can be seen talking through how to answer a mock question on whether there are any issues on which he disagrees with Trump. The question was posed to him by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who participated in the mock sessions.

"Obviously there is, I mean, I voted contrary to him in the Congress," DeSantis said in the video. He added, "I have to frame it in a way that's not going to piss off all of his voters."

DeSantis then said he does "what he thinks is right" and that he supports Trump's agenda but added that any disagreement he may have with the then-president he would raise in private.

Dave Abrams, a spokesman for DeSantis' political team, slammed ABC News in a statement and said the footage proved "that Ron DeSantis is unwilling to be anyone but his authentic self -- no matter the politics."

Gaetz, who has endorsed Trump's 2024 campaign, condemned the leak of the tapes in a tweet on Sunday.

The exchange caught on video shows how DeSantis strategized on how to embrace Trump and court his voters while also maintaining his own political identity. It's a challenge the Florida governor is likely to face as he approaches a potential 2024 campaign against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination.

In another clip aired by ABC News, advisers off camera can be heard talking to DeSantis about the importance of coming off as likable and telling him to write the word "likable" in all caps on a pad of paper at the debate podium

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: 2018; 2024; backstabbers; bigdeal; careerpolitician; desanctus; desantis; desantis2028; donatedonaldtrump; donatetrump; election2024; fakemaga; fl; florida; leakers; mattgaetz; nobodyleaks; rondesantis; sowhat; trump
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1 posted on 05/07/2023 6:13:40 PM PDT by conservative98
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To: conservative98

2 posted on 05/07/2023 6:16:03 PM PDT by conservative98
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To: conservative98

Republicans at least have differences of opinion. Democrats are much more in lockstep with the left’s agenda. There have been many to observe this, it’s not my own observation.


3 posted on 05/07/2023 6:17:13 PM PDT by packagingguy
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To: conservative98

I guess this is the part where we feign shock about finding out that DePlantis has been groomed by the Deep State for some time now.


4 posted on 05/07/2023 6:17:23 PM PDT by Observator
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To: conservative98

How not to piss off 78 Million people. Good luck.


5 posted on 05/07/2023 6:20:40 PM PDT by for-q-clinton (Cancel Culture IS fascism...Let's start calling it that!)
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To: conservative98

Simple . Don’t lie!


6 posted on 05/07/2023 6:25:34 PM PDT by griswold3 (Truth, Beauty and Goodness )
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To: conservative98
If DeSantis was smart he would have waited until 2028 to run for president.
7 posted on 05/07/2023 6:28:37 PM PDT by McGruff (Don't underestimate Joe's ability to f*** things up - Barack Obama)
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To: conservative98

Any chief executive needs a full-featured interior compass and the courage of his convictions. As between two of that type of person there will inevitably be a difference of opinion. Planning for that in advance constitutes wisdom.


8 posted on 05/07/2023 6:30:59 PM PDT by one guy in new jersey
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To: McGruff

He can still do so.


9 posted on 05/07/2023 6:31:38 PM PDT by one guy in new jersey
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To: conservative98

It just shows he’s smart. The rest of the GOP field hasn’t figured out that without the Trump voters, you can’t win.


10 posted on 05/07/2023 6:34:49 PM PDT by Brilliant
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To: conservative98

Not much of interest in the article, but that picture that you posted of Ron with the mask, LOL!


11 posted on 05/07/2023 6:35:53 PM PDT by FreeReign
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To: McGruff

if desantis was smart, he would get right with God and stop playing games with people just to line his pockets. it’s been obvious for years what a puppet he is, doesn’t truly care about people, except maybe his family and those paying him.


12 posted on 05/07/2023 7:15:11 PM PDT by b4me
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To: FreeReign

DeSantis running is good for the party. Trump should not waltz in.

DeSantis is entitled to 2 POTUS terms, one if found out.


13 posted on 05/07/2023 7:16:11 PM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: conservative98; All

100% with Trump, don’t even really like Desanctimonius but screw ABC and their “leaks”. Where are the leaks eith Kamala practicing how to call Biden a racist?


14 posted on 05/07/2023 7:20:05 PM PDT by wiseprince (Me,)
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To: conservative98

RE: ... How not to piss off Trump voters

Simple, wait till 2028 before running for President. Continue governing Florida.


15 posted on 05/07/2023 7:33:32 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: conservative98

CNN


16 posted on 05/07/2023 7:36:12 PM PDT by Pirate Ragnar (Be calm and act.)
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To: McGruff

He’ll be the candidate in 12 months. Trump is cooked or his campaign wouldn’t be doing all this stuff. Desperation.


17 posted on 05/07/2023 7:44:53 PM PDT by ilgipper (The mob only destroys. Never creates. )
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To: ilgipper

“He’ll be the candidate in 12 months. Trump is cooked or his campaign wouldn’t be doing all this stuff. Desperation.”

Dream on. You’re not very politically astute, are you.


18 posted on 05/07/2023 8:20:24 PM PDT by flaglady47 (Trump knows where all the bodies lie - just sayin.....)
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To: conservative98

DeSoros failed big... What a hoot!


19 posted on 05/07/2023 8:31:46 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: flaglady47

Trump is cooked, #12,488


20 posted on 05/07/2023 8:33:16 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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