DeSantis Campaign Press Release - DeSantis: Clear Winner in 4th Primary Debate

"DeSantis doesn't change his principles based on his audience or what big donors think - he's the principled fighter who delivers results for the American People."

Des Moines, IA - Ron DeSantis presented a clear and compelling vision for his presidency in his victory in the Fourth Republican Presidential Primary Debate hosted by NewsNation.

Following the debate, Ron DeSantis for President campaign manager James Uthmeier said:

"Ron DeSantis is the only candidate who will fight, win, and lead our nation's revival - and tonight's debate victory made that clear. Tonight, voters saw Ron as the only strong conservative on stage. And unlike Nikki Haley, who caves to the media, CCP, corporate democrats, and supporters of gender mutilation for minors, DeSantis doesn't change his principles based on his audience or what big donors think - he's the principled fighter who delivers results for the American People. Ron DeSantis is the strong leader who will lead our party to win again."

The top moment of the night came when DeSantis said: "If you're not willing to stand up and say that it is wrong to mutilate these kids, then you're not going to fight for the people back home. I will fight for you, and I will win for you."

"We have a great idea in America that the voters actually make these decisions, not pundits or pollsters. I'm sick of hearing about these polls, because I remember those polls in November of 2022. They said there was going to be a big red wave, it was going to be monumental, and that crashed and burned. The one place that didn't crash and burn was in the state of Florida. They weren't predicting that I would win the way I did, and I won the greatest Republican victory in the history of the state of Florida.

I'm looking forward to Iowa and New Hampshire. The voters are going to be able to speak and we're going to earn this nomination. And here's what we need. I am sick of Republicans who are not willing to stand up and fight back against what the left is doing to this country. You've got to be willing to stand strong, and you've got to be willing to beat these people.

I'm the only one running for president that has beaten these people on issue after issue. We beat the teachers' unions when we did school choice. We beat Fauci on COVID. We beat George Soros.

What we need for this country, and you have other candidates up here like Nikki Haley. She caves anytime the left comes after her, anytime the media comes after I did a bill in Florida to stop the gender mutilation of minors. It's child abuse, and it's wrong. She opposes that bill.

She thinks it's fine, and the law shouldn't get involved with it. If you're not willing to stand up for the kids - If you're not willing to stand up and say that it is wrong to mutilate these kids, then you're not going to fight for the people back home. I will fight for you, and I will win for you."

Watch HERE.

The biggest applause of the night came when DeSantis said: "As a parent, you do not have the right to abuse your kids."

"As a parent, you do not have the right to abuse your kids. This is mutilating these minors. These are irreversible procedures. And this is something that other countries in Europe like Sweden - Once they started doing it, they saw it did incalculable damage. They've shut it down. I signed legislation in Florida banning the mutilation of minors because it is wrong. We cannot allow this to happen in this country. And I know Chris disagrees with me. And I think he has an honest position. Nikki disagrees with me. She opposes the bill that we did the ban that she said law shouldn't get involved with it.

You said the law shouldn't get involved with it. She also though, I think - And this flows from what she did as governor of South Carolina. You know, they had a bill to try to say that men shouldn't go into girls' bathrooms. And she killed that bill. And she bragged that she killed that bill. Even to this day she bragged that. I don't think men should be going into little girls' bathrooms. I think it's wrong. And I think we have every right to protect them from that."

Watch HERE.