DeSantis says he’s ‘happy to follow the rules’ — but claims California GOP is changing procedure to ‘bend’ election to Trump
- Florida’s governor says he will abide by all primary election rules in effect
- Enters the countdown to the first debate next month, where participants must sign a pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee
- Trump will not participate in the debate, but said he would look to find a VP
Ron DeSantis said he will follow primary election rules, whatever they may be, but said it’s clear some state GOPs are trying to sway the results against minor candidates.
The comment comes as Donald Trump still refuses to take a vow to support the candidate who becomes the GOP nominee to participate in the debates. According to his own staff, the former president also believes that the debates lie below him.
Trump posted on Truth Social on Monday that he would use the debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 23 to consider vice presidential candidates.
“Whatever the rules – I’m happy to do it.” DeSantis told reporters Tuesday during a retail stop at a family-owned business in Concord, New Hampshire.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stopped by The Windmill Restaurant in Concord, New Hampshire, Tuesday morning to mingle with voters in the primary state
Speaking to reporters after speaking with diners, the governor said the California GOP’s new rules around delegates in the state’s primaries seek to “bend” the election for Trump
The California Republican Party recently changed its primary election rules whereby if a candidate earns 50 percent or more of the vote, all of the delegates’ votes go to them. This is different from before, when candidates in each district competed for the delegate’s vote there.
“Clearly some of these state parties are trying, you know, to bend it one way,” DeSantis added. “But that’s not something we can overcome, so bring it on.”
“Whatever it is, we’ll be there and we’ll compete and we’ll get the job done,” the Florida governor assured.
DeSantis mingled with voters Tuesday morning at The Windmill Restaurant in Concord.
After entering the family restaurant to applause, the governor of Florida immediately got to work. The governor spoke to voters gathered around a large red booth, sipping his coffee as he reviewed his policies and explained life along the way.
“I get up, train, water and coffee to go and then it’s off to the races. And what happens during the day, happens. And that’s life on the road,” DeSantis explained to the dainty voters who hung on his every word.
The Florida boy said it would be harder to get north when winter weather hits.
DeSantis poses with the owners of The Windmill Restaurant and their family and staff
One woman told the governor, “When you get to Washington, you have a lot of cleaning to do. You’d better bring your broom.”
The stop in Concord follows DeSantis’ full-day swing on Sunday, followed by a rollout of a policy proposal for his ideas for the economy, which he calls the Declaration of Economic Independence.
After coffee with diners, DeSantis meets with New Hampshire legislators, lunches with law enforcement officials, and wraps up his Tuesday with a town hall hosted by local station WMUR.
DeSantis is heading back to Iowa later this week after a bus trip there last week.