Moderator Asks DeSantis If He Should Drop Out In First Debate Question

In the first question of the fourth GOP primary debate, podcast host Megyn Kelly bluntly asked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) whether it was time for him to drop out of the presidential race.

After pointing out that former President Donald Trump — who was not present on the stage, just as he has not been present at any of the debates — is the clear frontrunner in the Republican primary by a massive margin, Kelly pointed to the challenges that DeSantis’ campaign has faced. Despite being an extremely popular governor among the conservative base, DeSantis has seen donors flee his campaign in recent weeks and watched his poll numbers shrink.

“Your campaign and its super PAC had spent the most money, had the most high net worth donors, and had a wave of momentum coming into this race. After your big reelection win in Florida, you were seen by many as the candidate most likely to consolidate the non-Trump field,” Kelly pointed out.

“But here we are a month out from the first real votes and you haven’t managed to do it,” she continued.

Kelly then pointed out that former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) — who is widely hated among conservatives for her warmongering and pro-establishment positions — is ahead of DeSantis. She also noted that the Florida governor is losing in the polls in his home state.

“In fact, Nikki Haley is beating you in New Hampshire and South Carolina now and closing in on you in Iowa. Not to mention Trump, who is not only dominating in the early states, but he’s beating you in Florida by over 30 points,” she said.

“Is it fair to say, as Senator Tim Scott did, when he dropped out that voters are telling you not no, but not now,” Kelly asked, referring to Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who dropped out of the Republican primary shortly after the third debate.

Instead of responding to Kelly’s points or her question, DeSantis immediately redirected to discussing his concerns that political experts and pollsters are flawed.

“So we have a great idea in America that the voters actually make these decisions, not pundits or pollsters,” he said. “I’m sick of hearing about these polls, because I remember those polls in November of 2022. They said there was going to be a big red wave. It was going to be monumental. And that crashed and burned. The one place it didn’t crash and burn was in the state of Florida.”

“They weren’t predicting that I would win the way I did,” DeSantis added. “And I want the greatest Republican victory in the history of the state of Florida. I’m looking forward to Iowa and New Hampshire. The voters are going to be able to speak, and we’re going to earn this nomination, and here’s what we need.”