Allies of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined a strategy for next week’s GOP presidential primary debate in a memo encouraging him to defend former President Donald Trump from attacks by rival Chris Christie and call the rival Vivek Ramaswamy of “fakes”.
The two-page memo, written by leaders of the pro-DeSantis Never Back Down super PAC, was posted on the Axiom Strategies website and is dated Aug. 15. Axiom founder Jeff Roe also runs the pro-DeSantis super PAC.
“Stand up for Trump when Chris Christie attacks him,” the note reads, adding a potential line for DeSantis to use on stage in Milwaukee against the former New Jersey governor: “Trump’s not here, so let’s leave him in peace. He’s too weak to defend himself here. We’re all running against him. I don’t think we want to join forces with someone in that scenario who’s auditioning for a show on MSNBC.”
Of Ramaswamy, the 38-year-old businessman whose long-shot campaign has seen an uptick in the polls in recent weeks, DeSantis allies write that the Florida governor must “take him a hammer,” calling him “fake.” Vivek’ or ‘Fake Vivek’.
The New York Times was the first to report on the note. Never Back Down did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Turned on Twitter, Ramaswamy called the attack plan “boring” and slammed “Robot Ron” for “taking lame, pre-programmed attack lines against me for next week’s debate.” His spokeswoman, Tricia McLaughlin, added in a statement: “If DeSantis has difficulty using a spoonI can’t imagine he’s particularly nimble with a hammer.”
Meanwhile, the pro-Christie Tell It Like It Is PAC responded with its own one-sentence debate strategy memo, which read: “Be yourself and tell it like it is.”
The document offers an insider’s view of what DeSantis’ boosters believe he needs to accomplish on stage next Wednesday, listing his defense of Trump and attack on Ramaswamy among the “core four things to do.”
The memo lists two additional general targets for DeSantis: Blast President Joe Biden and the media at least three to five times and give a positive view of the country at least two to three times.
He also lists two approaches for when candidates on stage invoke DeSantis’ name and is given a chance to respond, referring to the governor as “GRD.”
“1. When there is a basic attack on GRD’s central candidacy (calling GRD liberal, bashing veteran record, bashing conservative record), GRD should take the time, correct the record and highlight the positive/dismiss the attacker if it’s one level. one candidate,” he read. “GRD may also pivot to hit Joe Biden when possible.”
“2. If it is not a basic attack but GRD’s name is invoked, GRD should use the response opportunity to pivot and occupy time,” the memo continued. “GRD should ignore the weak attack, not even address it, and instead go straight to voters in Iowa, New Hampshire, etc. on messaging, vision, and name checking.” Iowans/Americans, I am speaking directly to you now…”.
The memo offers a window into how DeSantis plans for the upcoming contest, in which more than half a dozen candidates will battle it out on stage. Trump has indicated that he is unlikely to attendwhich would put DeSantis, currently a distant second behind Trump in most polls, center stage and more likely to take the incoming heat from rivals looking to leapfrog him in the race.
NBC News was told of the document’s existence by a person unrelated to either the DeSantis campaign or the pro-DeSantis super PAC. It’s not uncommon for super PACs to post these kinds of memos online, sometimes in hard-to-find places, as a way to get around laws that prohibit coordination between super PACs and political campaigns.
While the memo calls on DeSantis to defend Trump from Christie’s attacks, it also urges DeSantis to express himself as the leader best positioned to carry forward “the torch” of Trumpism.
“‘He was a breath of fresh air and the first president to tell the elite where to push it,'” the memo said, suggesting a potential line for the governor. “‘But he was attacked all the time, he provoked attacks all the time, and it was non-stop. The drama affected families. The Trump drama pitted brother against brother, friend against friend. It has so many distractions that it’s almost impossible for him. focus on moving the country forward. This election is too important.”
Interestingly, the note also implores DeSantis to mention a “personal anecdote” or “story about his family, his children” and/or his wife, Casey DeSantis, while “showing emotion.”
A Republican aligned with DeSantis praised the strategy as a “solid” plan of attack that would highlight his “strengths while exploring the weaknesses of candidates who are not there to seriously fight for the nomination but serve their own goals “.
“I would just add that the governor would get bonus points if he uses”soros‘ i ‘Vivek‘ in the same sentence,” this person added.
But a veteran Republican strategist unaffiliated with either presidential campaign expressed misgivings about putting those suggestions online.
“I’ve done media training with several governors, members of Congress and other Republican elected officials. In a training session I could give some of those verbal examples, of course,” this person said. “But to write this and then publish it? Now he can’t hit Vivek. Because when he does, Vivek is ready and calls him out for his pre-planned talking points in this document.
“And I’ve never told anyone to hit the media a certain number of times,” this person continued. “It’s something to do when there’s a s—– question or maybe something you don’t want to answer — it’s a tool, not a strategy. If I wanted to sabotage Ron DeSantis, I’d write this s—– “debate strategy memo” and I would put it online and then alert a reporter.”
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