How would you describe Ron DeSantis? How would you describe Ron DeSantis?
Camille, 39, strong progressive, Black
Luis, 58, strong conservative, Latino
Jarrett, 25, strong conservative, white
What is it about Gov. Ron DeSantis that captivates Florida conservatives but also draws a measure of respect from some people there who vote Democratic? To be sure, plenty of Democrats can’t stand Mr. DeSantis, who is up for re-election next month and is widely seen as a top-tier Republican presidential candidate in 2024. But no one denies that Mr. DeSantis has put his imprint on Florida — on its schools, its economic and health policies, its culture and way of life — and that some people are moving there because of the atmosphere he has created.
We decided to hold our latest Times Opinion focus group with 15 Florida voters from across the political spectrum, so people beyond the state can better understand Mr. DeSantis and get a stronger handle on this possible future national leader. The group split over the governor’s policies, but at a time of frustration over real or perceived ineffectiveness in government in America, many of our participants credited him with having a vision and an agenda — whether they liked it or not — and that he was able to enact much of it.
When asked what they’d tell friends in other states about why Mr. DeSantis might have a shot at the presidency (even if they didn’t support him), many of the participants emphasized his ability to stay relevant and drive national conversations and debates — for example, through flying migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts — and the skills and confidence needed to have that impact. Several also gave him big points for his handling of Hurricane Ian this fall. One participant who voted for President Biden but likes Mr. DeSantis said, “I felt that the Democrats had their chance. They had full control, and they just weren’t cohesive enough. And they were just too weak, even though they had all the power to pass what they wanted to pass. So I’m moving towards the Republican side. I don’t like Trump. I’m not a fan of Trump. But I would like to see a fresh face that I feel would be effective and younger in office, and that would be DeSantis.”
Polls show him ahead of his Democratic challenger for governor, Charlie Crist. They squared off in a debate on Monday night. The group participants largely seemed to see Mr. DeSantis’s re-election as a done deal; it’s what will likely happen afterward that thrilled or chilled them the most.
Alex 56, moderate, Latino, aviation manager
Allison 61, moderate, white, self-employed dog walker
Camille 39, strong progressive, Black, psychotherapist
Carmen 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
Donna 69, somewhat progressive, Black, activities director
Fatima 33, strong progressive, Latina, real estate
Jarrett 25, strong conservative, white, program manager
Kylee 26, strong conservative, white, attorney
Luis 58, strong conservative, Latino, executive vice president
Manny 40, somewhat conservative, Asian, retail manager
Paul 39, moderate, white, freight broker
Ralph 62, strong progressive, white, online customer support
Sergio 60, strong conservative, Latino, I.T. director
Tony 48, strong conservative, Latino, Uber driver
Veronica 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
Moderator, Frank Luntz
I want a word or phrase to describe Ron DeSantis.
Camille, 39, strong progressive, Black, psychotherapist
Controlling.
Paul, 39, moderate, white, freight broker
Stubborn.
Alex, 56, moderate, Latino, aviation manager
Political-driven.
Donna, 69, somewhat progressive, Black, activities director
Dictator.
Jarrett, 25, strong conservative, white, program manager
The future.
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
Rock star.
Luis, 58, strong conservative, Latino, executive vice president
Engaged.
Fatima, 33, strong progressive, Latina, real estate
Political showman.
Tony, 48, strong conservative, Latino, Uber driver
Savior.
Manny, 40, somewhat conservative, Asian, retail manager
Great.
Ralph, 62, strong progressive, white, online customer support
Polarizing.
Kylee, 26, strong conservative, white, attorney
Unwavering.
Allison, 61, moderate, white, self-employed dog walker
Selfish.
Sergio, 60, strong conservative, Latino, I.T. director
Doer.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
As his administration goes on, does he get better in your mind, or does he get worse? Anybody?
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
He’s getting worse because no one is stopping him. He’s a slick car salesman who’s smarter than Trump, and he’s dangerous.
Allison, 61, moderate, white, self-employed dog walker
Is it a governor’s job to make fun of other political people when you’re trying to teach anti-bullying in schools?
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
Yes. Trump 2.0.
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
He’s better than Trump. I think he’s more refined, and he’s not going to take it from anyone, which I like.
Allison, 61, moderate, white, self-employed dog walker
He’s not refined.
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
He’s gentler.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
He’s not. He’s a bully.
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
Well, I think he’ll be a great president.
Sergio, 60, strong conservative, Latino, I.T. director
He’s very comfortable being governor. And I think he is better now than when he took office. He knows how to get the gears of the bureaucracy in motion.
Paul, 39, moderate, white, freight broker
Some people describe him like a dictator. But I admire his ability to work the political system, even if I don’t agree all the time with what he wants to do.
Donna, 69, somewhat progressive, Black, activities director
Yeah. I’m not a fan of DeSantis. But I do give him credit for how he handled Hurricane Ian. He did do a good job, as far as getting people together, going out, speaking, getting the troops together. And the fact that he and Biden set their politics aside and came together and they sang from the same song sheet — I really felt good about that.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
Give me just one word that you’d use to describe Florida.
Kylee, 26, strong conservative, white, attorney
Dynamic.
Allison, 61, moderate, white, self-employed dog walker
Humid.
Jarrett, 25, strong conservative, white, program manager
Booming.
Luis, 58, strong conservative, Latino, executive vice president
Free.
Donna, 69, somewhat progressive, Black, activities director
Aside from politics, it’s paradise.
Camille, 39, strong progressive, Black, psychotherapist
Florida only works for some people.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
Explain that.
Camille, 39, strong progressive, Black, psychotherapist
If you are a DeSantis follower, it works perfectly for you. If you’re rich, it works perfectly for you. If you’re a person of color, it doesn’t work so well for you.
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
I disagree with that. I’m Hispanic, and it works for me. We don’t have state income tax, and we’re always worried about our veterans.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
I don’t know what Florida you live in, but that’s not the Florida I know. Even with this last hurricane, the hurricane impacted well-to-do areas on the west coast of Florida. But there were several communities inland that didn’t get the same kind of attention. There’s two different worlds in Florida. And that’s the problem.
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
I felt that Hurricane Ian — everybody had their act together, and everybody was deployed ahead of time, ready for action. Florida was ready, and Governor DeSantis led that charge.
Is Florida better off than it was four years ago? Is Florida better off
than it was four years ago? 7 people raised their hands.
Alex, 56, moderate, Latino
Allison, 61, moderate, white
Camille, 39, strong progressive, Black
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black
Donna, 69, somewhat progressive, Black
Fatima, 33, strong progressive, Latina
Jarrett, 25, strong conservative, white
Kylee, 26, strong conservative, white
Luis, 58, strong conservative, Latino
Manny, 40, somewhat conservative, Asian
Paul, 39, moderate, white
Ralph, 62, strong progressive, white
Sergio, 60, strong conservative, Latino
Tony, 48, strong conservative, Latino
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina
Allison, 61, moderate, white, self-employed dog walker
I’m not a fan of our governor. I’m very upset about the whole abortion thing. He was good with the hurricane. But my personal opinion is I can’t stand him. He’s a moron.
Ralph, 62, strong progressive, white, online customer support
I think the economy in Florida is probably pretty much about the same it was. Personally, I’m probably better off. I moved here from up north, like a lot of people. Your money probably goes further here than a lot of other states.
Tony, 48, strong conservative, Latino, Uber driver
I think it’s become more difficult here. I love Florida. But since the pandemic, a lot of people have moved down here. And I got priced out of the market in Naples. I bought in Sarasota. People I know that live here, working-class people, they’re having trouble finding a place to rent. They don’t have money saved to buy something, and rents are going up.
Donna, 69, somewhat progressive, Black, activities director
DeSantis does exactly what he wants to do. It’s almost like a dictatorship. He’ll cut off funds if he doesn’t want to accept them from the government. He flew those people in to Martha’s Vineyard. He definitely wants to be in the presidential ring, and he’s making it known.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
I believe that all of his decisions at this point are political. The fight with Disney, transporting the immigrants from Texas.
Jarrett, 25, strong conservative, white, program manager
You know what it costs to support illegal immigrants not thriving in the system?
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
I take exception with you calling them illegal.
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
That’s what they are.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
The people in Texas were asking for our help to get them away from a terrorist country, Venezuela. They were not illegal aliens.
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
He was trying to make a point.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
With people’s lives? So that’s OK?
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
Well, I feel awful for those people, and my heart aches for them, too. But you can’t just drop people off —
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
You’re buying into the talking points.
Sergio, 60, strong conservative, Latino, I.T. director
What about the drugs? What about the drugs killing our kids?
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
That, too. The opioids are out of control.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
You’re just throwing everything into the pot right now, so —
Donna, 69, somewhat progressive, Black, activities director
The opioids have nothing to do with the immigrants.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Let’s step back.
Was DeSantis right to send planeloads
of migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard? Was DeSantis right to
send planeloads of
migrants from Texas to
Martha’s Vineyard? 7 people raised their hands.
Alex, 56, moderate, Latino
Allison, 61, moderate, white
Camille, 39, strong progressive, Black
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black
Donna, 69, somewhat progressive, Black
Fatima, 33, strong progressive, Latina
Jarrett, 25, strong conservative, white
Kylee, 26, strong conservative, white
Luis, 58, strong conservative, Latino
Manny, 40, somewhat conservative, Asian
Paul, 39, moderate, white
Ralph, 62, strong progressive, white
Sergio, 60, strong conservative, Latino
Tony, 48, strong conservative, Latino
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina
Manny, 40, somewhat conservative, Asian, retail manager
It was just a smart move. I think we’re already overpopulated with too many losers. Just get rid of them.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
Hold on. Hold on. That is really, really strong. I’m going to give you a chance to take that back.
Manny, 40, somewhat conservative, Asian, retail manager
Nope.
Sergio, 60, strong conservative, Latino, I.T. director
Well, I came from Cuba during the ’60s, through legal channels, with visas. The world we live in today is totally different. These people are coming across, most of them, are not for political persecution. They’re coming across for economic reasons. The folks coming from Venezuela, I understand those.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
And the Venezuelans are the ones that DeSantis sent the plane to Martha’s Vineyard.
Sergio, 60, strong conservative, Latino, I.T. director
But that is only to spark the national debate. That was brilliant. We would not be having this conversation had it not been brilliant.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
What if it was your family? What if it was your family?
Luis, 58, strong conservative, Latino, executive vice president
My entire family came to this country legally, following all the processes that our country affords. I understand the struggle of people wanting to leave their country to come to our nation. To see someone try to come in illegally, it really bothers me tremendously as a Latin man. And just to be clear to everyone, I’ve been a registered Democrat my entire life. I voted for President Obama, did not vote for President Trump the first go-around, and I did the last time. What DeSantis did in moving people who did not come here legally, to other, I guess, Democratic cities to have them experience what we’ve been experiencing as a nation was actually a good thing.
Tony, 48, strong conservative, Latino, Uber driver
A lot of people are mad about the hypocrisy in the whole immigration process. My wife’s from Ukraine. We applied for the legal process, waiting over a year for a visa. When war happened, she had to flee to Mexico. We were living there for three months, waiting for her to come in legally. We’re sitting in Mexico, watching thousands and thousands and thousands of people every day crossing the border, and we’re sitting there having to wait. She was escaping war — real war — in Ukraine. How come one group of people gets preference over another group of people?
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
And, Frank, my mother is from Spain. My father-in-law is from Hungary. My mother-in-law is from Scotland. They all came legally.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
And they’re all white.
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
White? My mother’s from Spain.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
Same as European.
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
OK, well, I ID as Hispanic.
Luis, 58, strong conservative, Latino, executive vice president
Carmen, I’m from South America. I’m not white.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
It seems like people of color suffer and people who are white are allowed in this country —
Tony, 48, strong conservative, Latino, Uber driver
How is someone suffering if you can just come across from Mexico, but my white Ukrainian wife has to sit there, and she just can’t come across the border?
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
I cannot speak to your specific circumstance.
Tony, 48, strong conservative, Latino, Uber driver
White people have to wait in line to get into America.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
Oh, please.
Donna, 69, somewhat progressive, Black, activities director
Give me a break.
Tony, 48, strong conservative, Latino, Uber driver
Have you applied for a visa? Do you know what it’s like to apply for a visa from Ukraine? There’s thousands of people that have been waiting. They can’t even leave.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
The immigrants that were in Texas were from Venezuela, and they asked for asylum. And we treat people who ask for asylum differently than people crossing the water and getting into Texas, don’t we?
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
I agree. They were the wrong category that DeSantis flew up there.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
Yes. Thank you.
Donna, 69, somewhat progressive, Black, activities director
But look at us. Look at us all sitting here talking about all of this. When you go back in time, there was once an Ellis Island and places like that. So who do we think we are? What do we do? What’s the solution to all of this?
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
I want worker permits. I’m for these people to come.
Paul, 39, moderate, white, freight broker
It’s to enforce the laws. That’s the whole point.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
Well, DeSantis didn’t do that on asylum.
Allison, 61, moderate, white, self-employed dog walker
I just think they were using the people as political pawns. And I do know that a lot of people on Martha’s Vineyard did come forward to help these people. What is the solution? I don’t know. I believe in “give us your poor, your tired, your hungry.” And we, as a people, are supposed to help other people. I don’t know what the solution is, but we’re all human beings, and we’re supposed to help each other.
Do you think Florida was more successful
at handling Covid than other places? Do you think Florida was
more successful at handling
Covid than other places? 8 people raised their hands.
Alex, 56, moderate, Latino
Allison, 61, moderate, white
Camille, 39, strong progressive, Black
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black
Donna, 69, somewhat progressive, Black
Fatima, 33, strong progressive, Latina
Jarrett, 25, strong conservative, white
Kylee, 26, strong conservative, white
Luis, 58, strong conservative, Latino
Manny, 40, somewhat conservative, Asian
Paul, 39, moderate, white
Ralph, 62, strong progressive, white
Sergio, 60, strong conservative, Latino
Tony, 48, strong conservative, Latino
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina
Camille, 39, strong progressive, Black, psychotherapist
Everything was just so divided. There was no straight answer. It was “Wear a mask. Don’t wear a mask. Wear a mask.” It was just very, very confusing. The rules just continued to change.
Jarrett, 25, strong conservative, white, program manager
Maybe we shouldn’t have that many rules in the first place.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
That’s a joke.
Kylee, 26, strong conservative, white, attorney
I think the governor did what he could do with the information available.
Sergio, 60, strong conservative, Latino, I.T. director
He navigated the situation with minimal economic impact and minimal impact to our kids and school. I think he did a great job navigating Covid.
Paul, 39, moderate, white, freight broker
I felt like the policies were just a lot more free, a lot more open, and they didn’t have repeated shutdowns like a lot of other states for as long a period of time. That was beneficial to helping small businesses survive a little longer.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
Alex, your reaction to the governor and Covid?
Alex, 56, moderate, Latino, aviation manager
The bad outweighs the good. I don’t particularly think that he was science-based or his policies were very science-based back then when it started. There were a lot of mixed messages: There was a time that I didn’t know if I should wear a mask at Publix or shouldn’t I. And I was confused. Is this the law? Is it not the law?
Moderator, Patrick Healy
I want to ask about the issue in Florida around the law restricting teaching on gender identity and sexual orientation. What was it all about, and does it matter to you?
Alex, 56, moderate, Latino, aviation manager
Having two kids who went through the Dade County Public Schools, I always relied on the teachers and the administrators and the schools to guide them properly. My kids were with them probably more than we were at home. I wouldn’t have an issue with teachers addressing sexuality with my kids. They’re two girls. Restricting a teacher or counselor or coach who is loved and trusted by students from discussing whether they’re gay or not or whatever sexual orientation they’re concerned about — I don’t think that it’s the school’s place or DeSantis’s place to not have teachers talk about sexuality in school.
Kylee, 26, strong conservative, white, attorney
My reading of the bill was that this was about teachers in grade-school classes not teaching sexual content to children. I think there’s been a trend of children being less within the parents’ control and more within the control of people who they don’t necessarily know.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Kylee, Alex talked about trusting the school system, essentially, to educate kids or choose what to say. Do you not feel that same level of trust?
Kylee, 26, strong conservative, white, attorney
I attended public school in a large school district in South Florida. And my understanding growing up was always that we were supposed to be careful about trusting adults who were not our parents. And to just teach our children to blindly trust adults around them, I don’t think, is necessarily a positive thing. I want to trust our educators. I adored my public school teachers, and they made an incredible impact on my life. I think it’s the job of the parents and the community to have a completely open dialogue of how we’re handling children and raising children in our communities. Parents and educators all need to be working together on that.
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
But isn’t the issue it was K through third grade? They don’t need to tell them about sex. I’ve been volunteering the last few weeks, helping a Cuban girl that doesn’t speak English in a second-grade class. They’re busy. They’re trying to learn the alphabet and math and words and spelling.
Paul, 39, moderate, white, freight broker
Yeah, I agree with Veronica. I don’t feel it’s appropriate to start learning about sexuality, let alone just all the different kinds of sexuality, at that point.
Jarrett, 25, strong conservative, white, program manager
I’m going to be a parent in the next few years. I don’t want them to come home one day when they’re in second grade and say, “Oh, you know, I learned about this or that,” whether it has to do with L.G.B.T. or regular sex, whatever it is. I want to be the one to talk to them about that one day.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
Is Ron DeSantis a culture warrior?
Jarrett, 25, strong conservative, white, program manager
Yeah, I think he is. He’s tackled abortion and saving babies’ lives here.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
Oh, please.
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
C.R.T.
Kylee, 26, strong conservative, white, attorney
As to being a culture warrior, I think he’s very transparent that his values instruct his policy decisions.
Do you want Governor DeSantis
to run for president in 2024? Do you want Governor
DeSantis to run
for president in 2024? 6 people raised their hands.
Alex, 56, moderate, Latino
Allison, 61, moderate, white
Camille, 39, strong progressive, Black
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black
Donna, 69, somewhat progressive, Black
Fatima, 33, strong progressive, Latina
Jarrett, 25, strong conservative, white
Kylee, 26, strong conservative, white
Luis, 58, strong conservative, Latino
Manny, 40, somewhat conservative, Asian
Paul, 39, moderate, white
Ralph, 62, strong progressive, white
Sergio, 60, strong conservative, Latino
Tony, 48, strong conservative, Latino
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina
Jarrett, 25, strong conservative, white, program manager
I was a fan of Trump. But Trump probably disappointed me in executing on some things, unfortunately enough. And I think DeSantis is that guy to get in there, again, execute his policies, his values, his agenda.
Tony, 48, strong conservative, Latino, Uber driver
I want to keep him in Florida. I don’t want to lose him.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
Oh, you can have him.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
Explain, Tony, three sentences why you don’t want to lose him.
Tony, 48, strong conservative, Latino, Uber driver
DeSantis is protecting Florida from a lot of things. Our economy is great. It’s been great through the whole pandemic. I moved from Chicago, where it was a mess.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
Is there anyone else who likes DeSantis but doesn’t want him to run for president?
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
I’m torn because I’m with Tony. We need a world leader that people respect. And DeSantis would bring that to the table. And it would be nice to have a moral person that’s leading the charge in the White House.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
I’m going to change my opinion. I want him to run, and I want him to go up against Trump. And I want those two to fight it out so the world can see what idiots they are.
Alex, 56, moderate, Latino, aviation manager
I don’t want him to run. He’s just another Trump in the making. And once he gets into office, he’s going to jeopardize our democracy that my parents fought so hard to maintain for 60 years living in this state.
Luis, 58, strong conservative, Latino, executive vice president
I think Governor DeSantis has probably been one of the smartest chief executives of our state. But I would not want him to run because, although I really like him, I think he would just succumb to the political pressures, as he did as a congressman. And I would not vote for him for president.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
If it’s DeSantis versus Trump versus somebody else for president, who do you choose and why?
Kylee, 26, strong conservative, white, attorney
I have to choose DeSantis because, as much as I respect Trump, I think my generation is frustrated with — and I say this with all due respect — incompetent boomers telling us that my generation has it easy while they’ve been pulling the ladder up behind them. And I think DeSantis is an example of competency and execution. And I think he can do it in the White House better than anyone else in the political field right now.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
Sergio, the primary’s between DeSantis, Trump or somebody else — who do you vote for?
Sergio, 60, strong conservative, Latino, I.T. director
DeSantis. Trump did a lot of good for this country, in my opinion. The guy can’t keep his mouth shut.
Tony, 48, strong conservative, Latino, Uber driver
I have to vote for DeSantis, too. I think Trump has become an ineffectual politician. People don’t want to work with him. He’s too caustic with everything, I think. I think DeSantis might be able to better reach across the aisle and get some kind of bipartisan legislation passed and make some good things happen for America.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
Manny, same question.
Manny, 40, somewhat conservative, Asian, retail manager
Trump all the way. We need a strong leader that we can relate to and can energize the vote for the Republicans, someone with some personality, some flair.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
Jarrett?
Jarrett, 25, strong conservative, white, program manager
DeSantis. I think Trump is just too polarizing at this point, unfortunately. As much as I enjoyed him as president, I’m not sure he can win again.
Allison, 61, moderate, white, self-employed dog walker
Can I just ask one question that nobody has brought up, being a woman? How can DeSantis tell me what I can and cannot do with my body? How is that not an issue?
Kylee, 26, strong conservative, white, attorney
I think DeSantis is an incredible example of what a supportive husband should be in terms of how he has raised his family and supported his wife, Casey.
Allison, 61, moderate, white, self-employed dog walker
No, I’m talking abortion.
Kylee, 26, strong conservative, white, attorney
That’s how I think DeSantis thinks about women.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
We’re not talking about that.
Kylee, 26, strong conservative, white, attorney
I think that’s how he treats women. That was my understanding of the question.
Jarrett, 25, strong conservative, white, program manager
How do you feel about the women that get killed in the womb?
Allison, 61, moderate, white, self-employed dog walker
The women that get killed in what?
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
They’re not women.
Kylee, 26, strong conservative, white, attorney
Where?
Jarrett, 25, strong conservative, white, program manager
The women babies that get killed in the womb, the female babies that get killed in the womb.
Allison, 61, moderate, white, self-employed dog walker
If you don’t believe in abortion, you never have to have one. But if I would like to have one, the choice needs to be there for me. It’s been here for, whatever, 50 years. And now they’re taking it away?
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
At 15 weeks in Florida — these are babies.
Allison, 61, moderate, white, self-employed dog walker
So then you never have to have an abortion. But who are you to tell me that I can’t?
Sergio, 60, strong conservative, Latino, I.T. director
But that whole argument is crazy because all that happened is that we moved it backwards, back to the states. If you live in a state that you don’t like the abortion laws in that state, well, move to another state.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
We’re running out of time. If Governor DeSantis were listening to you right now, what would you tell him about his role as governor?
Camille, 39, strong progressive, Black, psychotherapist
I would say that he needs to work on uniting the country instead of dividing the country.
Paul, 39, moderate, white, freight broker
I would agree with you — reaching across the aisle. I feel like he has a political skill to maneuver the bureaucracy and actually get things done and be a younger breath of fresh air than what we’ve seen before.
Alex, 56, moderate, Latino, aviation manager
I would ask him: Why is everything so political for him?
Donna, 69, somewhat progressive, Black, activities director
Just be open and receptive and listen before you make unequivocal decisions on things.
Luis, 58, strong conservative, Latino, executive vice president
I would say: Governor DeSantis, the most effective thing you could do for our state is to remain governor.
Fatima, 33, strong progressive, Latina, real estate
Stop making everything a political show.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
I would implore Governor DeSantis to stop the bullying tactics.
Tony, 48, strong conservative, Latino, Uber driver
Keep strong. Keep fighting. Don’t ever change. Don’t ever give up.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
I’m going to ask two of you, based on your response to the same question I asked a moment ago, but I’ll add a fourth option. If the running for president was between DeSantis, Trump, another Republican or a Democrat — Paul, which one would you support?
Paul, 39, moderate, white, freight broker
I’d go for DeSantis.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
Because?
Paul, 39, moderate, white, freight broker
I felt that the Democrats had their chance. They had full control, and they just weren’t cohesive enough. And they were just too weak, even though they had all the power to pass what they wanted to pass. So I’m moving towards the Republican side. I don’t like Trump. I’m not a fan of Trump. But I would like to see a fresh face that I feel would be effective and younger in office, and that would be DeSantis.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
Luis — Trump, DeSantis, another Republican or a Democrat.
Luis, 58, strong conservative, Latino, executive vice president
Trump, 100 percent.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
Because?
Luis, 58, strong conservative, Latino, executive vice president
Forgetting his rhetoric and his bombastic ways of how he may do things, he had our country running properly, economically, from a G.D.P. standpoint, from an immigration standpoint. And people forget how many people still follow him. And he’s the only one that I trust is not going to fall to the political opposition. And as much as I love Governor DeSantis, he doesn’t have, in my opinion, that fight in him.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
If you were talking to a friend in another state about why DeSantis had a real shot at winning the presidency in 2024, what is it about DeSantis that you’d say? Even if you personally don’t like him.
Allison, 61, moderate, white, self-employed dog walker
If we had to pick something, the hurricane. He did handle the hurricane beautifully.
Sergio, 60, strong conservative, Latino, I.T. director
I’d say leadership skills. His ability to execute his promises.
Kylee, 26, strong conservative, white, attorney
He has a magnetic leadership quality because he just exudes this confidence.
Tony, 48, strong conservative, Latino, Uber driver
His leadership has caused a mass migration to the state of Florida over the last two years, versus somewhere like California. Obviously he’s doing something right.
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
I don’t think he has a shot in hell because he’s not likable.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
OK. But if you had to explain why he might win to a friend, is there anything?
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black, equal employment opportunity investigator
Because Trump imploded.
Fatima, 33, strong progressive, Latina, real estate
DeSantis knows how to stay relevant. His name is everywhere, and everybody knows him. People in New York, people in different states, everybody knows his name. He’s very good at that.
Alex, 56, moderate, Latino, aviation manager
He’s good under pressure. He has demonstrated leadership when it comes to emergencies, a catastrophe, not only with a hurricane but as well with the building collapsing in Miami Beach.
Camille, 39, strong progressive, Black, psychotherapist
His keen ability to associate and network with the ultrawealthy and the exclusive community that allows him to raise millions of dollars for his campaign. That will definitely put him in the leading edge to win.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
Paul, you voted for Biden. But you like DeSantis.
Paul, 39, moderate, white, freight broker
Yes.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
Explain that.
Paul, 39, moderate, white, freight broker
Well, my vote for Biden was actually — in reality, it was a vote against Trump. So there really were no other options. It’s not that I was excited for Biden. Now, DeSantis, it’s different. I do feel that it’s not just somebody giving us just something to vote for because it’s not Trump. Honestly, a ham sandwich would have won if it was running against Trump, because there’s enough voters that just didn’t want Trump.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Several of you mentioned Hurricane Ian.
Do you believe in human-caused
climate change? Do you believe in human-caused climate change? 6 people raised their hands.
Alex, 56, moderate, Latino
Allison, 61, moderate, white
Camille, 39, strong progressive, Black
Carmen, 66, somewhat progressive, Black
Donna, 69, somewhat progressive, Black
Fatima, 33, strong progressive, Latina
Jarrett, 25, strong conservative, white
Kylee, 26, strong conservative, white
Luis, 58, strong conservative, Latino
Manny, 40, somewhat conservative, Asian
Paul, 39, moderate, white
Ralph, 62, strong progressive, white
Sergio, 60, strong conservative, Latino
Tony, 48, strong conservative, Latino
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina
Sergio, 60, strong conservative, Latino, I.T. director
I do believe that there is global warming, and I believe that that’s caused by greenhouse gases. But Hurricane Andrew, August 1992, was a Category 5 hurricane. That was 30 years ago. I do believe that us humans are impacting the climate on this Earth. And I think it has been a gradual thing that’s been happening with fossil fuels and things like that. But the solutions are what I have the big problem with.
Ralph, 62, strong progressive, white, online customer support
I think you have to be careful comparing climate to weather. And climate is usually measured over decades or even a century or more. There were probably powerful storms 500 years ago, before Columbus came to the New World, but we’re just not aware of it because it didn’t get documented or recorded anyway. Maybe there is an issue with fossil fuels. But then maybe the way we’re going about remedying it, whether it should be wind and solar and so forth, that’s the best solution.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Are you more worried about how extreme weather like hurricanes will affect your home and its value than you were five years ago?
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
Well, I’d say because four years ago, I lived through a Cat. 5. And so Panama City was in the cone this time. And I was scared. I was ready to go. And I told my husband, if a Cat. 5 comes here again, I’m out. I don’t want to live through this again. I’m in my 50s. And I don’t want to deal with this when I’m in my 70s, 80s or 90s. So —
Moderator, Patrick Healy
And you don’t connect that, though, to climate change.
Veronica, 53, strong conservative, Latina, radio host
No, I have a friend that’s a weatherman here. And he said it’s weather. It’s not climate change. But I want to be a good steward to the environment. And people always say Republicans don’t want to be. But I want good emissions out of your car, and I like electric cars. But is that the answer? So, no, to me, they’re different, climate and then this hurricane.
Moderator, Frank Luntz
Sergio, what is your final word?
Sergio, 60, strong conservative, Latino, I.T. director
It’s another case in point of how divided we are as a society, right? We really are very polarized. And it kind of makes you notice, as we were going through this conversation, I know what I’m going to say is a little bit extreme. But it really starts to set in about what point down the road there’s going to be a civil war in this country because we just can’t come to a common ground. We can’t come to a common ground in our politics. As a society, it’s like we’re just at two poles. We’re North and South Poles, right? And this dialogue has really, again, brought that out to the forefront about how divided we are as a society.
"Opinion" - Google News
October 25, 2022 at 12:00PM
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Opinion | Who is Ron DeSantis? 15 Florida Voters Discuss. - The New York Times
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