Panel of Young California Voters Offer Mixed Reviews for Newsom and DeSantis in Red vs. Blue State Debate

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
02/12/2023 19h03

A panel of young California voters recently joined FOX News' "The Story" to share their reactions to the highly anticipated Great Red vs. Blue State Debate between California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on "Hannity." The panelists, Fordham University students Andrew McDonald and Parker McGinley, representing both the Democratic and Republican parties respectively, expressed their opinions on the candidates during the discussion.

During the interview, McDonald, a Democrat, made it clear that he would not support DeSantis, instead leaning towards re-electing President Biden. Additionally, McDonald dismissed speculations that Newsom is running a shadow campaign for the presidency as a last-minute replacement for Biden. He suggested that DeSantis' performance in the debate was an attempt to gain traction in a primary race dominated by former President Trump.

"I'm watching all the debates, but this debate mattered just as much as all the other Republican debates," McDonald stated.

Although McDonald identified himself as a Democrat, he admitted to not being a fan of Newsom. However, he recognized the governor's efforts in building support for a presumed 2028 presidential bid, which he considers inevitable.

When asked about polls indicating Americans' overall opposition to a Biden re-election campaign, McDonald acknowledged that surveys showed "generic Democrats" ahead of the incumbent in a hypothetical match-up against Trump. However, he remained hesitant to fully endorse Biden's claims that the MAGA movement posed a "threat to democracy." McDonald argued that if this were true, Biden would have observed negative polling numbers and stepped aside to allow Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro or Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to take his place.

McGinley, the Republican voter on the panel, expressed some disappointment in DeSantis' performance during the debate, stating that he had hoped the governor would exhibit more of the charismatic qualities seen in former President Trump. McGinley felt that DeSantis was trying too hard to emulate Trump's style and lacked the "charm" of the 45th president.

"For that reason, I lean more towards Trump. Of course, I also lean towards Nikki Haley. I think she's borrowed a lot from DeSantis," McGinley stated.

However, McGinley later shared that he believed DeSantis would make an excellent vice president, highlighting the governor's potential to complement a presidential candidate such as Trump or Haley.

In conclusion, the panel of young California voters provided a mixed review of Newsom and DeSantis' performances in the Great Red vs. Blue State Debate. While McDonald leaned towards re-electing President Biden and expressed skepticism towards Newsom's presidential aspirations, McGinley found DeSantis' performance lacking in the charm he admired in Trump. The panelists' insights shed light on the diversity of opinions among young voters and the potential influence they may have on future elections.

Note: This news article is generated based on the provided information only and does not contain any additional facts or sources beyond the given details.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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