Fox News "The Ingraham Angle" - Transcript: Interview with Rep. Ron DeSantis
Interview
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INGRAHAM: Don't you wonder how you get chosen to sit behind the president? I want to know. Joining us now with more as Congressman Ron DeSantis. What an amazing night, Congressman. I know you were on cloud nine because somehow, last month, when I was down there, you were down 15 points, and now you are up 12 points. Again, polls can change. I'm not saying -- we are not getting too confident here. But that is like a 27-point spring. What could possibly account for that, Congressman?
REP. RON DESANTIS, R--FLA.: Well look, we had the president has been behind me but was more public toward the end of June. We had a big debate on Fox News, which showed the distinctions between the two candidates, which was very important, not just the fact that I am supported by President Trump in my opponent was fighting Trump during the election, but also on some of these substantive issues that you and I have discussed, things like e-verify, being tough on illegal immigration come a big distinction there.
But tonight, I think was just taking it to another level. Laura, that whole arena was filled with people. And there were thousands of people waiting outside that couldn't get in. There was a lot of electricity. Those folks are fired up, ready to go, and look Florida is going to -- I think we will do well in Florida in the midterms this year.
INGRAHAM: A lot of people are talking about, because of the horrible natural disaster in Puerto Rico, and a lot of people are moving into Florida from Puerto Rico, they had a horrible situation they've had to personally deal with. Registering to vote, if some of them weren't, they're going to a registered Democrat. Do you have a strategy for dealing with that because I understand that the Democrats are moving on that front? Now, we're obviously moving past the primary there.
DESANTIS: Sure. So the sitting congresswoman from Puerto Rico has endorsed me. She's a Republican. Jennifer Gonzalez and she's a good friend. And that community in central Florida is receptive to pro-jobs, promote economic growth --
INGRAHAM: Good.
DESANTIS: -- pro-education message. So we can do it. Governor Rick Scott, his approval rating amongst that community in central Florida is, like, 70 percent because he's worked very hard.
INGRAHAM: Wow.
DESANTIS: He managed the hurricane, aftermath as well, and he managed the Maria aftermath, when you had folks that were leaving Puerto Rico to come to Florida. So yeah look, we need to compete everywhere.
INGRAHAM: OK. You just came out with an ad that you are getting some flack for. A lot of us think it's pretty adorable. We have to play it. Let's watch.
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INGRAHAM: OK, now, some people don't have any sense of humor. What is your reaction tonight to that ad? Some people think it's kind of goofy. I have already endorsed you, full disclosure. I endorsed you five years ago when you weren't announced yet. But what about that?
DESANTIS: Well look. The response has been overwhelmingly positive because in this business, you have to be able to take a step back, poke fun at yourself, have fun at this, and part of what makes me I think effective is that I have a wife that is my best friend and best supporter, we have a family, that is very important to both of us. And we wanted to let voters know about that.
We wanted to do it in a way that is not the typical cookie-cutter ad --
INGRAHAM: Yeah.
DESANTIS: -- that no one pays attention to. So people who were getting upset about it, they have no sense of humor. And I think that some people, it is just, like, the Trump derangement syndrome, it sets in so much that they lose the ability to reason and have a laugh at some of the stuff.
INGRAHAM: Well, first of all congressman, I think your wife should run in the future. I'm already five steps ahead of you on that.
DESANTIS: She gave a heck of a speech tonight in the warm up, Laura.
INGRAHAM: I already heard about it. Congressman, congrats. Great night tonight. We really appreciate it.
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