Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was out to prove at the Republican debate in Miami on Wednesday night that Florida belongs to him, which was no easy task with Republican frontrunner Donald Trump just down the road in Hialeah, Florida, hosting his own rowdy rally telling the world that Florida is Trump territory. But for once, DeSantis did not seem shaken. For much of the night, he commanded the stage convincingly. This was DeSantis’ strongest debate yet, easily eclipsing the stilted delivery and non-answers we saw from him in debates past.
The governor was more personable and direct, and he was able to deliver seemingly heartfelt answers, especially when speaking about his support for Israel and signing an executive order after the Hamas terrorist attack that allowed the Florida Division of Emergency Management to pay for 700 Americans in Israel to fly back to the US. The governor, in a strong appeal to Jewish voters, made it clear that he unconditionally supports Israel in its war against Hamas and reminded voters that as a veteran who had served in Iraq, he understood well the horrors of war. Those who were waiting to see if the man who dared to challenge the party favorite was himself up to the challenge likely felt a little better about their chances after Wednesday night. Roxanne Jones, a founding editor of ESPN The Magazine and former vice president at ESPN, has been a producer, reporter and editor at the New York Daily News and The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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