DeSantis ducks questions about 2024 White House run in Florida debate: ‘It’s not a tough question’

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis refused to say if he plans to make a 2024 Republican presidential run in his high-stakes debate with Democrat Charlie Crist.

DeSantis stayed silent after Crist demanded that he promise to serve out his entire term.

“Yes or no, Ron. Will you serve a full, four-year term if you’re re-elected governor of Florida?” Crist asked in the Monday night clash.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis participates in a debate against former Gov. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., at the Sunrise Theatre, Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM/)

“It’s not a tough question. It’s a fair question. He won’t tell you,” added Crist.

After a brief silence, DeSantis retorted with a comeback line of his own.

“The only worn-out old donkey I’m looking to put out to pasture is Charlie Crist,” DeSantis said.

The fiery debate marks the only time the pair will face off before election day on Nov. 8.

On abortion, Crist warned that the governor would move to outlaw all abortions like other GOP-run states have done since the Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.

Crist also blasted DeSantis for flying Venezuelan asylum seekers from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, a move he called a publicity stunt that used the immigrants as human pawns.

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DeSantis lobbed verbal grenades at Crist for being a solid supporter of President Biden, whom Republicans blame for supposedly mismanaging the economy and failing to keep a lid on inflation.

That gave Crist the opening he needed to hit back with the jibe about 2024.

“Ron, you talk about Joe Biden a lot. I understand, you think you’re gonna be running against him, I can see how you might get confused,” Crist said. “But you’re running for governor.”

DeSantis holds a solid lead in polls over Crist, who served a single term as governor as a Republican before switching parties and winning a Tampa-area congressional seat as a Democrat.

DeSantis has been seeking to expand his national profile by championing right-wing causes, including his outspoken opposition to COVID restrictions, strident anti-immigration stand and backing the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law that limits discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools.

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His ambitions have sparked the ire of former President Donald Trump, who sees DeSantis as a potential rival for control of the GOP.

DeSantis has also refused to join some other potential Republican candidates in pledging to only run for the White House if Trump skips the race.