A Republican firm connected to a super-PAC supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ potential presidential campaign has proposed a bold debate strategy that involves confronting biotech entrepreneur and presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and defending former President Donald Trump if attacked by former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. This detailed debate strategy, along with polling and opposition research, was recently found on the website of Axiom Strategies ahead of an upcoming Republican debate. The strategy was removed after inquiries by The New York Times but was shared by various news outlets.
Axiom Strategies, founded and led by GOP strategist Jeff Roe, is a key advisor to the pro-DeSantis super PAC called “Never Back Down.” The New York Times reported that once they asked about the debated strategy memo, it was taken down from the Axiom Strategies website. However, other documents, including internal polling and research on other candidates’ potential attacks on DeSantis, were available until late afternoon on Thursday. These documents covered candidates such as Ramaswamy, Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. The memo dedicated to Haley was particularly extensive, consisting of 30 pages detailing her criticism of DeSantis’ conflicts with Disney and his stance on the Ukraine-Russia war.
Notably absent from the posted documents was research on Trump, who has not confirmed his participation in the debate. According to DeSantis’ campaign spokesperson Andrew Romeo, the campaign was not aware of the debate strategy memo being posted and emphasized that attacks from all directions are expected as DeSantis is viewed as the strongest candidate to challenge President Joe Biden.
While CBS News has reached out to Never Back Down and the DeSantis campaign for comment, the content of the memo offers insights into the recommended approach for DeSantis. The memo highlights four main objectives for DeSantis: to attack Biden and the media multiple times, to emphasize DeSantis’ positive vision, to counter Ramaswamy’s attacks, and to defend Trump if Christie attacks him. The memo references Roger Ailes’ “Orchestra Pit Theory,” suggesting that memorable moments, even if problematic, receive more media attention than discussions about foreign policy. It proposes specific strategies, such as using a sledgehammer against Ramaswamy and employing a line that plays on Trump’s absence from the debate to deflect Christie’s attack.
The memo also outlines additional potential moments for DeSantis, including invoking personal stories and emphasizing the need for a torchbearer to continue the movement Trump initiated. The memo concludes with a link to an ad by the anti-Trump super PAC called “Win It Back,” featuring a former Trump supporter expressing concerns about distractions and the ability to move the country forward.
In terms of polling, the Axiom website displayed an August poll conducted in New Hampshire. It revealed that 34% of respondents leaned toward, were likely to vote for, or were definite Trump supporters, while DeSantis garnered 16% in the same categories. Ramaswamy ranked third with 11% support, and Scott earned 6%. The poll also examined the impact of specific ads on voter preferences and found that anti-Trump messaging did not significantly sway respondents’ likelihood of voting against him. However, a critical ad featuring Christie resulted in a 16% decrease in support for Christie among those who viewed it. The poll showed that DeSantis closed the gap with Trump in a head-to-head matchup compared to previous polls.
Regarding debate preparation, Governor DeSantis has been readying himself for potential attacks from other candidates. Brett O’Donnell, a seasoned Republican debate coach, has been leading debate preparations for DeSantis, hosting weekly sessions with the governor. Additionally, the DeSantis campaign’s pollster, Ryan Tyson, has been conducting debate preview calls with fundraisers and donors. The campaign expects intense attacks during the debate but is confident in DeSantis’ ability to withstand them.
As for the possibility of Trump’s attendance, the campaign is prepared for both scenarios. Never Back Down recently released a statement addressing the uncertainty, expressing readiness to adapt to any situation.
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