What Comes After: A 2024 Game (Gameplay-PAUSED)

[S019]

Tallahassee, Florida: February 10, 2023

(Crowd cheers as DeSantis walks onto the stage)

Thank you!

Today, we have gathered because our country is in trouble. Under Joe Biden, inflation has soured out of control and families cannot make ends meet. Joe Biden and the radical left spent trillions of taxpayer dollars and made inflation worse, and the country is suffering as a result. Unfortunately, though this isn't Joe Biden's only mistake.

Along with the radical left, Joe Biden is turning America woke. In Joe Biden's America, you're taught to hate America, not to love it.

(crowd boos)

Yes, I know it's terrible. The left is indoctrinating our children and teaching them that America is a racist country. They are teaching them that Americans are racist people. They are teaching them that we shouldn't feel proud to be Americans, but we should be sorry. I have always believed this is the greatest country on Earth, and the left will never tell me otherwise!

(crowd cheers)

When I was re-elected a few months ago, I said that Florida is where we send woke to die. Today, I'm telling you that together we will send wokism to die across America!

(crowd cheers)

But there is so much more at stake in this election. Yesterday, I submitted a bill to the Florida legislature to finally change our abortion laws, so that Florida is finally a state where we can protect life. But we cannot stop there, the time has come to protect life all across America. God has given a right to every child to live, and we must respect that right, and protect the sanctity of life across our great nation!

(crowd cheers)

Most importantly we need leadership in this country again and Joe Biden has not shown it. He has cowed to AOC and the far left at every instance. He stood with them and their socialist ideas when he tried to pass a multi-trillion dollar far-left bill which would have just added to our already ruinous national debt. Then we wonder why the Democrats are always raising our taxes.

(crowd boos)

I will cut your taxes, so that you can keep more of your money and I will stop all of this out of control leftist spending, and I will never, ever let this wonderful country fall to socialism.

(crowd cheers)

It doesn't have to be this way. We don't have to settle for the failures of Joe Biden. There is another way, and I want to be your voice and we can take back America and bring it back to greatness, together.

Thank you all very much!

(crowd cheers and waves signs saying "DeSantis 2024")


Actions:

Early Feb 2023: Submit bill to state legislature that would ban all abortions after 15 weeks except in cases of rape, incest, and danger to the life of the mother

(Other actions coming soon)

[S019]

Early Feb 2023: Submit bill to state legislature that would ban all abortions after 10 weeks except in cases of rape, incest, and danger to the life of the mother

Rest of Feb: Governor duties and start running first ads

[Insert image of DeSantis talking to a camera]

DeSantis: I believe in America, I truly do, I believe in the opportunity this country has to offer, I'm worried that opportunity is being lost under this administration, and that's why I'm running for President.

[show images of DeSantis in his youth as well as a modest house]

DeSantis: Growing up we didn't have much, my mother worked as a nurse and my father installed TV boxes. But what we did have was hope, the hope that one day we would be successful.

[show images of DeSantis working in the navy and as a prosecutor]

DeSantis: I've always believed in serving my country, I went to college and then joined the Navy, and then I became a prosecutor. All because I wanted to do something for this country.

[show images of DeSantis as a Congressman and as Governor

DeSantis: I became concerned that politics as usual wasn't working when I returned home and that's why I entered politics. I served 6 terms in the US House and then I ran for Governor of Florida.

[cut back to DeSantis speaking to the camera]

DeSantis: America has given me so much, and now I want to give back. I want to help you achieve the same success that I did. Joe Biden is turning America into a socialist country, if that happens, we'll lose the opportunity that has long distinguished this country. That isn't happening on my watch. I'm Ron DeSantis and I approve this message because this is the greatest country in the world and we can't let that be taken away.

March 2023: Visit to Iowa, meet with Governor Reynolds and state legislative leadership. Visit to New Hampshire, several rallies throughout the state with allies

April 2023: Governor duties for first half of the minute, visit to South Carolina in second half.

Under Joe Biden, America is struggling. America is failing. We need to present a new approach to leadership. In Florida, we've shown a different way forward. When we reopened the state during COVID, we were criticized, but we kept deaths down and gave people their freedom back. We showed the woke mob that there was another way. Right now, our country is being led by Joe Biden's woke mob, and has been unable to deal with the challenges that it faces, including inflation and the rising threat of China. We need more effective leadership. Our campaign is going to provide better leadership and put this country on the path to success, once again.

May 2023: Introduce election integrity bill, provisions include ending weekend early voting, requiring mail ballots to be received by 7 AM on Election Day, requiring voter ID for mail voting, also voters shall be purged from the rolls if they fail to vote in three consecutive general elections. Work with the legislature to pass the bill during the first half of the month and then travel to Nevada for the second half. Meet with Governor Lombardo and Representative Amodei, as well.

COVID and lockdowns hit Nevada's economy hard. Joe Biden wanted to go into national lockdown and destroy Nevada's economy. In Florida, we kept our economy open and gave people the freedom to do what they thought was right, because this country is about freedom. In America, you have the freedom to what you want, or at least you should. But Joe Biden's America is becoming a socialist country where you have no freedom. Our campaign believes in freedom and wants to fight for freedom, join us if you believe the same!

[S019]

Miami Republican Debate

Neil Cavuto: Welcome to the Republican Presidential Debate here in the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida. I'm Neil Cavuto of Fox News, I'm joined by FOX family members Maria Bartiromo and Ainsley Earhardt. There will be also be a post-debate panel of Tucker Carlson and Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to discuss the debate's events. Today we're moderating the first Republican debate for President of the United States. We'd like to thank the venue, the city of Miami, and Mayor Suarez, who is in the audience today. Let's begin.

1. An Opening Statement

I'm Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida. I'm running for President because I believe this country is in trouble. Joe Biden has been controlled by the radical left and is working to make our nation into a socialist one. The radical left is also teaching our kids about Marxism. I am running to stop that, I'm running to return conservative values to our country, values of freedom, low taxes, limited government, and I am proud to have governed in accordance with these values right here in Florida.

2. Raise your hand if you believe that Donald J. Trump is the rightful winner of the 2020 Presidential Election (Say if you raised your hand and if you like, write one or two sentences)

I did not raise my hand, and I think the question of whether or not President Trump won, which we will never know without an audit is tangential to the point. The 2020 election is over and we need to focus on a plan that can let us win by enough in 2024 that the Democrats cannot possibly steal it, and I believe I am the candidate who can make that happen.

3. Who is your favorite Republican President in your lifetime? (Keep your answer concise, 2-4 sentences)

I am a big admirer of President Trump. President Trump stood up for life, he stood up to the radical left, and he stood up for American jobs. He has shaped our nation for the better and I look forward to continuing his policies.

4. The United States has an out of control inflation problem. The cost of housing, food, energy, and gasoline is spiraling, what will you do to control inflation and bring down costs for working Americans?

The first thing that we need to do is stop all of this out of control spending in the Biden administration, which is fueling inflation. Joe Biden promised to heal divides in America, but he stood with the radical left to pass a trillion dollar spending package and then stood with the far left and denied that inflation was a problem. I will also cut the gas tax, we need to help working class Americans, unlike the Democrats who want to pass the Green New Deal and make energy unaffordable.

5. Will you support a national abortion ban? Would it be after 15 weeks of pregnancy? 10 weeks? 6? Or would you prohibit all elective abortions?

We have passed a 10 week abortion ban in Florida and I would support passing one nationally. I believe it is important to protect our most vulnerable members of society, and I will work with Congress to get it done. I also will only appoint judges who pledge to uphold Dobbs v Jackson.

Personalized Questions:
To Governor DeSantis: You've promised to make America look more like right here in Florida with lower taxes and more freedom, how do you plan to make that happen as President?

Well, the first thing we're going to end the out of control spending that the Democrats have passed, not only is this contributing to inflation but it is also adding to our national debt and all of the young people here in the audience are going to be stuck with the bill. I will cut taxes, today taxes are so high that young people can't establish a foothold. You look at any of these Democratic run cities like San Francisco and New York, taxes are so high that young people don't have enough money to get by, meanwhile in Florida, we welcome thousands of young people each year who are seeking freedom from these tax-and-spend coastal liberal cities. In Florida, we also offered people the freedom during COVID to make their own decisions and we still kept deaths down. I was in Nevada recently, and the Democratic run lockdowns there devastated the economy there. I am going to give you the freedom to do what you want, because you know what is best for yourself, and even during times of crisis, there are choices other than top-down government solutions. Democrats govern by treating you like children, who need to be told what to do, I will treat you like the adults you are, letting you make the decisions for yourself.

6. Rebuttal Period/Free Space


(Rebuttals will be edited in as I scroll through everyone's responses, hope GM doesn't mind )

When you say “unlikely to be charged”, let me translate: these allegations are 100% fabricated, probably politically-motivated, and have been dismissed as groundless by the DOJ. I am completely devoted to my wonderful wife and son, as anyone who knows me would tell you. Now, as for being “unfit” to serve, these are the exact same smears that were used by liberals and RINOs in the fake news media against President Trump. This is what they’ll call anyone who dares fight and take on the swamp, and doesn’t conform to the establishment’s norms of “civility” and “moderation”. Frankly, folks, I think it shows the bias we’re facing here that Neil has asked this question to me, and not to Governor DeSantis, considering the many credible stories we’re hearing every day about his personal conduct.

To quite honest with you, Matt, I've never heard of the allegations you're talking about

There's a reason why you're now universally known as Ron DeSnaketis, Governor. You claim to be the second coming of Trump, new and improved. But, when you were asked who's the most inspirational person you've met, you said Bush 41. Not exactly a rock-ribbed conservative. You pretend to fight Big Pharma, but you've shielded Pfizer and their kind from liability. When you were in Congress, you supported disastrous trade deals like TPP. Trade was one of the biggest reasons Trump first ran, and you never gave a hoot about our workers before he came along. You long cheered on the reckless military adventures started by Bush 43 that cost us trillions of dollars and thousands of lives.

Look, Roger, you're not one to talk about loyalty to Trump. You quit his campaign in 2015 and have not worked for him since. It doesn't matter how much you claim to support him, you have not put in the work that I have. I worked very hard to help President Trump win Florida in 2020, which no one thought we could do. Meanwhile, you joined the Libertarian Party in 2014 and threatened to run against the Republicans in Florida and hand this state to the woke left.

Need I mention your big money donors, the ones who begged you to run? They're the same Bush-Romney neocons who flooded our borders, gutted our industries, and tried to stop Trump from the very beginning. We all see through you, Ron. The question is if you're ever willing to come clean about it.

No one was supporting me for Governor in 2018 until President Trump did. Our campaign was successful because we recognized that the old brand of conservatism was outdated, you've worked in Republican politics for 50 years, Roger, so maybe we should ask if you're actually the Bush-Romney candidate and just along for the ride. In fact, you stopped working for campaigns just as Trump came onto the scene.

[S019]

June 2023-September 2023

Strategy: DeSantis' strategy will focus on continuing to establish field operations and voter outreach in the first four states, he will also continue running the biographical ad from the previous turn.

June 2023: Visit to NV, hold several rallies including one with Representative Amodei and former AG Laxalt. Also hold meeting with Governor Joe Lombardo to seek his endorsement (campaign will have a strong emphasis on lockdowns due to their destructive impacts on the Nevadan economy).

Here in Nevada, the Democratic run lockdowns devastated the economy. Joe Biden and the Democrats want more of that. Meanwhile, in Florida we showed there's a different way. We gave you the freedom to make your own decisions. There is hope in Nevada, you all elected a wonderful Republican governor, and next fall we are going to elect a Republican slate all across Nevada.

[crowd cheers]

We will show that Nevada is not going to be a state where woke leftists can implement lockdowns anymore.

Early July 2023: Participate in debate, appear on national media in the week after to discuss debate performance and also to give the campaign more national exposure.

Mid July 2023: Governor duties

Late July 2023: Visit to New Hampshire, meet with Governor Chris Sununu, former Senator Kelly Ayotte, and state legislative leadership to seek their endorsements (campaign with an increased focus on taxes to appeal to business-orientated Republicans, especially in the Seacoast).

Here in New Hampshire, the Republicans have kept your taxes low! Unlike in many of these other Northeastern states, young people in New Hampshire can find a place to live, because tax-and-spend Democrats don't run this state. My campaign is going to bring these low tax values, some of my deepest held, to the White House. I believe that you shouldn't be unable to afford a house just because you live in a Democratic run tax-and-spend state. So many young people move to Florida, because of the low taxes that our administration implemented, but this is a national campaign, and we need to make sure that no American is unable to afford a place to live because their taxes are too high.

August 2023: Visit to Iowa, meet with Governor Kim Reynolds, Senator Joni Ernst, Senator Chuck Grassley, and state legislative leadership for endorsements (campaign with an increased focus on abortion compared to other states to court evangelical vote)

I am deeply committed to protecting life, and I am going to work hard to get a Republican majority to finally protect life all across America.

[crowd cheers]

In Florida, we have banned abortions after 10 weeks, and I am prepared to push for such a ban nationally. But it's important that we not only protect life, but we need to go a step further and make sure that the activist judges who allowed for abortions to occur until the moment of birth are never nominated again. I believe deeply in respecting the precedent of Dobbs v Jackson, and was the only candidate on stage to claim that I would only appoint judges who will respect that precedent.

September 2023: Visit South Carolina, meet with state legislative leaders and US representatives (campaign with an increased focus on culture wars, including CRT/LGBT issues to court rural conservatives)

Our country is under attack from the radical left. They are teaching woke gender ideology to our kids in our schools. This, sadly is Joe Biden's America, where kids are indoctrinated into this woke nonsense. I am going to stop all of this woke idiocy. We're also going to stop the Marxist indoctrination in our schools that teaches our kids to hate America. In my America, we are going to learn to love America again and appreciate all that makes it great.

[S019]

Des Moines Republican Debate

Jesse Watters: Welcome to the Republican Presidential Debate here in the Des Moines Civic Center. I'm Jesse Watters of Fox News, I'm joined by FOX family members Pete Hegseth and Katie Pavlich. Today we're moderating the second Republican debate for President of the United States. We'd like to thank the venue, the city of Des Moines, and our guests, Senator Ernst, Governor Reynolds, and Congresswoman Miller-Meeks and Congressman Nunn, and we extend our well wishes to Senator Grassley, who is currently hospitalized but is expected to make a full recovery. We wish you the best of health Senator. Let's begin.

1. Under President Biden America has witnessed a shocking border crisis, with total madness and chaos as thousands of people and unlimited drugs, fentanyl, cocaine, pours into the United States. What steps will you take to bring this crisis under control, and also, how do you approach immigration in general? Do we need controls on all immigration?

I think we need to increase funding for the Border Patrol, but we also need to finish the wall that President Trump started. I would stop all of the amnesty that has happened under Joe Biden, and make clear that we will actually enforce our immigration laws. I don't think we need further controls on all immigration, immigrants enrich our country, my great grandparents were immigrants, and I'm sure others on this stage have similar stories, but we need them to come legally.

2. Raise your hand if you support cost-controlling reforms to entitlement programs that Senate and House Republicans such as Scott Perry and Jim Jordan are supporting. (You may write one sentence)

(Did not raise hand), I cannot comment on the plan unless it is before me, but my administration does not plan to make large cuts to these programs.

3. Do you support continued monetary and weapons aide to Ukraine in their fight against Putin's Russia?

Yes I do. Ukraine is fighting a war for freedom against an expansionist dictatorship. If Ukraine falls, Russia will not just stop at Ukraine, Putin has dreams of returning to the days of the Russian Empire, and we cannot let that happen.

4. What will you do to end the spread of Marxism, woke ideology, and Critical Race Theory in America's public schools?

In Florida, we have banned critical race theory and gender ideology in schools. These Marxist ideologies used to be taught in Florida schools and they are still taught all throughout the country, I would ban them nationally, just as we have done in Florida. I would also empower parents more, I would push legislation to allow for parents to have a say in their kids' education so they can be aware if their kids are being brainwashed by woke ideology and take the appropriate actions.

5. Do you believe that free trade is a net benefit for the American economy?

I think free trade unfairly hurts American jobs, but we also need trade with other countries, but we need it in balance. I believe President Trump's tariffs on China were a step in the right direction and I would continue that policy. I would also continue President Trump's crackdown on countries that participate in unfair trade practices like China.

Personalized Questions:
To Governor DeSantis: Do you support American military intervention to remove the socialist Maduro regime in Venezuela?

I would not support intervention. I greatly oppose the Maduro regime and would like to see it replaced, but another costly war is not the right approach. I would reverse the Biden administration's softening towards Venezuela, the current administration is strengthening Maduro when we should be weakening him. I guess it makes sense given how Joe Biden has caved to the socialists for the entirety of his presidency, but under my administration strict sanctions on Venezuela would be reimplemented.

6. Rebuttal Period/Free Space

[S019]

Rebuttal:

On attacking Ron DeSantis:

You dodged your record in the last debate, Ron. Let's see if you'll be straight with the American people tonight.

Back in Florida, you appointed for Broward County Sherriff, my home county, one Gregory Tony. Sherriff Tony has been caught lying under oath multiple times. He's admitted to drug use. He murdered a man! Shot his neighbor six times, two in the front of the head and two in the back. Talk about an upstanding citizen.

Why did you hire a drug-using murderer for sheriff of Florida's largest county? More importantly, why haven't you fired him yet when you removed the last guy?

It's really a shame that Roger Stone has desperately resorted to the same untrue attacks that the liberal media pushed against me. The truth is that I was not aware of the shooting when I hired Sheriff Tony, and the incident was a case of self-defense. The man in question had a gun and threatened to shoot Sheriff Tony and his brother. Sheriff Tony at the time lived in a high crime neighborhood and needed to defend himself. Sheriff Tony acted in self-defense to save his own life and that of his brother. It's really a shame that Mr. Stone claims to stand for the Second Amendment, but does not seem to believe in the concept of self-defense. This is becoming a pattern with him, between the clips trashing Ivanka Trump, the refusal to campaign with Trump, his long record of working with George Bush, and now the fact that he seems to not believe in the Second Amendment. I am actually glad you brought this story up, because it shows the importance of the Second Amendment and your lack of commitment to it. Meanwhile, I will always be committed to people's rights to defend themselves from criminals. Also I did not fire him, because I felt it was up to the voters of Broward County to decide, and whatever decision they would make, I would respect it.

[S019]

October 2023-Early February 2024

October 2023: The first half of the month will be a visit to Nevada. Team DeSantis is going to hit on the issue of "freedom" in Nevada noting how it has destroyed the state economy. The rest will be a visit to Iowa, knock doors and hold town halls throughout the state, continue to emphasize the culture war to appeal to evangelical voters. Team DeSantis is going to establish a foothold in this key early state.

The radical left shut down Nevada's economy during COVID. People lost their livelihoods thanks to this top down approach by Democrats. In Florida, we let people make the choices they wanted. We kept deaths down and kept our economy open, showing that top-down government control isn't the answer. We showed that you can deal with a crisis without a one-size-fits-all approach. My campaign is all about protecting your freedom, knowing that you, and only you, know best for yourself.

We are going to stop all of the wokeness from the radical left. We are going to crack down on gender ideology and critical race theory and get it out of our schools. We are going to make sure that the radical left can never ever shut down our churches or our economy ever again. We are going to go to the White House and put all of the wokeness of the Joe Biden administration behind us, and return to the America that we all know and love, not the America of the radical left.

November 2023: Visits to New Hampshire, knock doors and hold town halls throughout the state, emphasize issues of crime and low taxes to win over both business minded conservatives and law-and-order conservatives.

In 2020, while rioters and looters pillaged our cities, the radical mob stood by and watched. I can promise that as President, I will never stand by and watch while thugs vandalize your property. Democrats care more about criminals than they do about you. That's why they let criminals out of jail while keeping your taxes high. I want to applaud your Republican Governor and legislature who have done a great job of keeping these disastrous policies out of New Hampshire, but it isn't enough to just keep it out of New Hampshire. All across the country, Democratic-run cities have high crime and high taxes and people can't afford to find a place. That's what Democrats do with your tax dollars, they pamper criminals, instead of helping you find a place to live. In Florida, we tried a different approach, we eliminated the state income tax because we figured that it is enough that you have to pay high federal taxes and that you know how best to use your money. As President, I will cut your taxes and I will stand up to criminals and the woke mob, and I will always be your fighter.

December 2023: First half remain in New Hampshire, more of the above, second half visit Iowa again. Continue focus on culture war issues, but also emphasize "freedom." The strategy remains to appeal to Iowa's large evangelical voter base. Continue knocking doors.

The woke mob wants to take away your freedom. During the pandemic, they made sure you couldn't leave the house even to go to church. They would not even let you seek consolation from God. In Florida, we took a different approach. We trusted that people would do the right thing without being told to stay in their home by the government. The leftist media criticized us heavily and called me nicknames but ultimately we showed there was a way other than top-down government control. We showed you can keep deaths down while still letting your kids attend school or while still attending church on Sunday. The woke mob wants control, but I want freedom, and I will protect your freedom if I am elected President.

Jan+Early February: Remain in Iowa, lots of rallies around the state talking about "freedom," "wokeness," and other such issues, but also talk about traditional conservative culture war issues like abortion. Continue knocking doors, as well.

I believe deeply and firmly in life. I believe deeply in protecting life. I strongly oppose abortion, and I am prepared to push for a 10 week ban on abortion, and perhaps even further if I am elected. Others may say they can do it, but I have experience with wrestling the legislature, the Florida legislature and I did not always get along, but now we have a great relationship. I am also the only candidate to commit to only appointing judges who will respect the Dobbs decision. I can push such a bill through Congress and I will sign it in my first 100 days.

The elitist liberals do not understand Iowa. They want to force critical race theory and gender ideology onto our kids and indoctrinate them into hating America. The radical left hates America, but I love this country. They showed just how they respected our Christian values when they shut down churches and prevented you from going to church on Sunday. In Florida, we did not shut down our churches, we trusted people would make the right decision and let them continue to exercise their constitutional right to worship freely. I will never ever cave to the woke mob and I will always protect, defend, and promote the Christian values that I so deeply hold.

Caucus Day: Chuck Grassley will record a robocall to be sent out in caucus day. DeSantis will continue knocking doors with volunteers to get supporters out, DeSantis staff will also hand out DeSantis flyers to caucus goers.



Ads:

Ad #1: Stop the Woke (airing in all 4 early states)

[show pictures of kids in a classroom with a sickle and hammer transposed over it]

Narrator: Kids are being taught critical race theory and woke ideology in their classrooms.

[show pictures of flag burning and riots and general chaos]

Narrator: Our young, vulnerable kids are being taught to hate America

[Enter Ron DeSantis]

DeSantis: Not on my watch, in Florida we passed the STOP WOKE Act to end the teaching of all of this woke ideology.

DeSantis: I’m running for President to stop these elitist liberals from indoctrinating our kids and stealing our country. I'm Governor Ron DeSantis and I approve this message, because I’m the woke mob’s biggest enemy yet

[DeSantis closes with him surrounded by his kids]


Ad #2: Locked Down Churches (Air in IA, SC, and NV, with a heavy emphasis on IA)

[show black and white images of locked down churches]

Narrator: During COVID, the radical left shut down our churches.

Narrator: Shut them down, so we couldn't pray

[image shifts to color as DeSantis is shown in footage shaking hands]

Narrator: But Governor DeSantis saw another way

Narrator: DeSantis kept churches open, because he believes you not the government can make your own decisions.

[DeSantis now speaks directly to the camera]

DeSantis: I'm Ron DeSantis and I approve this message because this country was built on freedom and I'm running for President so they can never ever take that freedom away ever again.

Ad #3: Rioters and Looters (to air in all 4 early states)

[show footage of looting in 2020]

Narrator: Under Joe Biden, crime is out of control. Cities are on fire and nobody is safe. In 2020, Democrats watched as riots tore our country apart.

[Joe Biden and Kamala Harris appear in black and white colors with the words "opposing crime was racist" written over them in "red"]

Narrator: What did Democrats like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris do? They praised the looters, they defended them, they said that opposing crime was racist.

[Ron DeSantis appears in colored footage shaking hands]

Narrator: Governor Ron DeSantis condemned the mob and made clear that crime would not be tolerated.

[show image of DeSantis signing anti riot law]

Narrator: Governor DeSantis passed laws to crack down on rioting to restore peace to the streets.

[DeSantis now speaks directly to the camera]

DeSantis: I'm running for President to end on the Democrat crime wave, I'm governor Ron DeSantis and I approve this message because I will always side with you not criminals.

Ad #4: Low Tax Champion (to air in all 4 early states, with a particular emphasis on NH)

[black and white images of high gas prices]

Narrator: Reckless spending, high inflation, high taxes. That's the story under Joe Biden

[black and white images of a stressed family looking at the tax bill]

Narrator: Families struggling to pay their bills, young people struggling to buy a house.

[Enter Ron DeSantis]

DeSantis: The DC politicians have it all wrong. They don't need to take more of your money, they need to let you keep more of it.

DeSantis: I'm running for President because DC Democrats have it wrong. Florida keeps taxes low, regulation down, and DC out. As President I’ll slash the taxes killing ordinary Americans and I’ll overturn the Washington gravy train. I'm Governor Ron DeSantis and I approve this message because Washington is supposed to work for you, not the other way around

[S019]

Iowa Speech

While, this is obviously not the result that we had hoped for, our campaign has shown real strength today. Today we showed that there is any way forward for America, a way forward other than big government, out of control spending, and radical Marxist ideas in schools. Today, we showed that our movement is here to stay. We must however, also acknowledge the disappointments of tonight, and I want to thank my wonderful campaign staff, who gave it their all, and got us so close. I want to thank each and everyone one of my supporters for coming out tonight and voting. We will face obstacles on our path, but we must overcome those obstacles, not cower in the face of them, but take them on. Our campaign is ready for the right, and I hope our supporters are too. Thank you!

Early February: Campaign in New Hampshire, hold rallies and town halls all over the state and knock doors all over the state as well, an all hands on deck approach to get the vote out. Campaign messaging will remain the same as previous turns in NH, appealing to business conservatives and to law and order voters by discussing the issue of crime and taxes.

[S019]

Early-Late February: Visit South Carolina and stay there, the campaign is investing heavily in South Carolina, holding town halls all across the state and getting voters out. They are also blasting the airwaves with earlier ads as well as some new ones. The campaign will talk about the culture war to appeal to rural voters and talk about low taxes to appeal to urban and suburban voters. Appear with Nikki Haley and Tim Scott throughout the state and use them as surrogates

I will always stand up to the woke mob. They want to force our kids to be indoctrinated by gender ideology and Marxist ideas. I will never, ever let this happen. We are going to give parents a say here and do away with all this woke bureaucratic nonsense. Do you know what Josh Hawley thinks about this issue? He wants a one-size fits all approach and wants DC bureaucrats to run everything. What would stop someone like AOC from forcing teachers to teach Marxism? I want to empower you, I believe in your rights, I believe in the rights of local and state governments. Top-down bureaucracy is how we got here in the first place, I've been on this fight from the very beginning, I opposed Obama's disastrous Common Core scheme, and I am going to continue this fight until you win, because you ultimately are what matters.

I firmly believe in lowering your taxes. All Joe Biden and the Democrats want to do is take more and more of your money to spend it on fancy, trillion dollar socialist programs, I will end all of that. DC bureaucrats think your tax dollars are for them to spend on fancy vanity projects, but I see it differently, your tax dollars belong to you, and I believe you should get to keep way more of them than you currently do. In Florida, we've had low taxes for years and in fact totally abolished the state income tax. Everyone moves to Florida, and compare that to coastal liberal run states like New York or California where young people can't afford a home. We can do so much better, but we need someone who can stand up to the DC bureaucracy, and that person is me.

Ad: Career Politician



Narrator: Higher taxes, more inflation, more government, that's what Washington, DC tells us.

[show families struggling with bills]

Narrator: Josh Hawley said he'd be different

[Insert clip of Hawley's MO AG ad saying he wouldn't be a ladder climber]

Narrator: Now, Josh is trying to run for President and claims he's different, but who is the real Josh Hawley

Narrator: He couldn't manage his own office as Attorney General, yet alone managing the nation

[Insert clip from local Missouri media]

Narrator: He opposed giving parents say over their children's education

["Some on this stage say the solution is just the opposite, that we should just leave it to localities"]

Narrator: Really Josh? Leaving it to DC bureaucrats is the solution, yet again?

[black and white image of the nation's capitol]

Narrator: Josh Hawley is just another DC bureaucrat, vote NO on Josh Hawley

[Josh Hawley appears in black and white shades, with "VOTE NO" in red over him]

DeSantis for America paid for this ad

Ad: Nikki

[Nikki Haley looks at camera]

Nikki: I care a lot about our state, and we need someone who will champion our SC values

Nikki: That person is Ron DeSantis

Nikki: Ron understands that we have to stand up to the radical left and stand for conservative values, and I believe he can provide the conservative leadership we need in the White House.

Nikki: Josh Hawley sided with the liberals on education and he supports Russia. He isn't going to provide the conservative leadership we need, and he can't win

Nikki: Join me in supporting a conservative leader who can win, join me in supporting Ron DeSantis

DeSantis (VoiceOver): I'm Ron DeSantis and I approve this message


Polls being run in rural, Christian parts of SC by a group called "Americans for Prosperity and Conservatism SuperPAC" collecting data on how likely voters would to vote for Josh Hawley if they found out "he participated in unnatural sex acts while at Yale" and if they found out "he participated in elite social clubs at Yale."

(OOC: wink wink)

[S019]

Team DeSantis is privately viewing NV as a lost cause following the Stone surge and Lake's drop out, and thus will fly out to Texas.

Team DeSantis will be campaigning in full force in Texas, knocking doors, sending out flyers, and motivating voters. They will also run ads in the state and other Super Tuesday states (Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia). No new ads will be produced this turn. Governor DeSantis will also meet with Governor Greg Abbott of Texas to seek his endorsement and will secretly meet with former President George W. Bush (this is only here for context, no game actions can be taken based on this) to see if his machine can aid a behind the scenes effort.

[S019]

Super Tuesday Plans: Ron DeSantis will focus heavily on the state of Texas campaigning with Senator John Cornyn throughout the state. Other prominent DeSantis surrogates will be focusing on the states of TN+NC

Tier 1 (Heavy campaign presence, lots of mobilization, lots of ads, speeches by surrogates and DeSantis himself):
TX: basically camp here, use Cornyn early and often
TN: Lee is the main surrogate and will take on the responsibility of spreading the campaign message
NC: visit here early and then have Haley take over as the main surrogate and spread the campaign message

Tier 2 (campaign infrastructure and GOTV operations in place, national ad buys, no visits, unless explicitly stated in the plan):

CA
VA
OK
AR (have Sanders do some campaigning here and run a few ads featuring her, also have Boozman serve as a surrogate)
AL (have Ivey do some campaigning and run a few personal ads)
MN

Tier 3 (basically abandoned, minimal investment)

UT
MA
VT
ME
AK

DeSantis will make a visit to North Carolina on Day 1 and spend the remaining days in Texas campaigning with Senator John Cornyn on multiple occasions, including a major joint rally on the day before Super Tuesday.

DeSantis will continue to emphasize the messaging that he has pushed throughout the campaign (opposition to wokeness, supporting low taxes, opposing crime, etc.)

Team DeSantis however will invest heavily in robust door knocking and GOTV operations in NC and TN, as well as in TX. Nikki Haley will serve as the primary surrogate in North Carolina and will travel across the state spreading DeSantis' message. Governor Bill Lee will be the primary surrogate in Tennessee and he will also cut a few ads endorsing DeSantis which will be aired heavily in TV slots in Tennessee.

In the Tier 2 states, other than a few local star surrogates, DeSantis and his surrogates will retain from personal appearances. Team DeSantis will also invest in building robust campaign infrastructure and GOTV operations with the hope of finishing a strong second in these states.

The Tier 3 states are viewed by Team DeSantis as either unwinnable or too small to be worth any effort.

It goes without saying, but ads from previous turns will be re-run.

Excerpt from a rally in Texas:

Here in Texas, you made it clear that all of the woke nonsense supported by radical left would not fly. We need to take those values, the same values that I governed with in Florida to the White House. All across this country, children continue to be indoctrinated by cultural Marxism and woke gender ideology. We cannot continue to let this happen, and if we don't elect someone who can win, the woke mob that runs the Democratic Party will mandate that you all, here in Texas, also submit to their indoctrination agenda. We cannot let that happen, and that is why I am asking for your vote this Tuesday, so that we can return to teaching our kids math and science and not woke Marxist nonsense.