DeSantis Debate Strategy Memo Suggests He Defend Trump, Attack Ramaswamy And Avoid Policy Talk - Forbes

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Topline

A super-PAC supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential bid wants him to defend former President Donald Trump in next week’s first GOP primary debate, abstain from jabs at former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and instead focus his attacks on biotech entrepreneur and fellow candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, according to a debate-prep memo that reflects a desperate tone as DeSantis’ campaign keeps failing to gain traction.

Key Facts

The memo, authored by the Never Back Down super-PAC and first reported by the New York Times, instructs DeSantis in specific detail to deploy four key strategies for the upcoming Fox News debate, including attacking President Joe Biden and the media “3-5 times,” stating DeSantis’ “positive vision,” “[hammering]” Ramaswamy and defending Trump.

The memo—which was published by the super-PAC, a common tactic to avoid violating campaign finance laws—also proposes that DeSantis steer clear of policy talk, citing late Fox News CEO Roger Ailes’ “Orchestra Pit Theory,” which suggests that candidates who discuss dense policy issues in a debate are less likely to attract viewers.

In discussing Trump, Never Back Down instructs DeSantis to refer to him as a “breath of fresh air” when he was elected president, but also remind voters that “he’s got so many distractions that it’s almost impossible for him to focus on moving the country forward,” the document reads, citing an anti-Trump political ad as inspiration.

The memo also tells DeSantis to tell a “personal anecdote story” about his children and his wife, Casey, while “showing emotion.”

The debate-prep memo was published along with a trove of internal documents from Never Back Down laying out strategies for DeSantis’ flailing campaign on the website of Axiom Strategies, a political advisory firm owned by Never Back Down’s chief strategist, Jeff Roe.

Crucial Quote

“Trump isn’t here, so let’s just leave him alone. He’s too weak to defend himself here,” the memo suggests that DeSantis should say.

Chief Critic

Former Biden White House Chief of Staff Ronald Klain pointed out the oddity of the strategy in response to the memo, tweeting, “I've prepared a number of winning candidates for Presidential primary debates. I've never seen a strategy of defending the candidate ahead of you, and punching down, succeed.”

Surprising Fact

The Times notes that political materials from super-PACs are often posted on websites where they are unlikely to be discovered by the public in order to avoid federal campaign laws that prevent super-PACs from directly coordinating with the campaigns of the candidates they are supporting.

What To Watch For

Fox News will host the first GOP primary debate in Milwaukee on Wednesday, August 23, though it’s unclear if Trump will attend.

Key Background

DeSantis’ standing in polls has tanked since Trump officially launched his presidential campaign in November and has ramped up attacks on his onetime ally. DeSantis’ campaign has dealt with a series of mishaps since launching in May, including bleeding money and staff, a glitchy rollout on Twitter Spaces and failure to net endorsements from fellow Republicans. DeSantis has blamed his performance on “elites” and the “liberal media,” claiming they are conspiring against him to prevent him from being elected.