Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Ron DeSantis Campaigns In South Florida
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Ron DeSantis crisscrossed the state of Florida on the final day of early voting, as he tries to motivate his base to turn out on Election Day on Tuesday.
He spoke to a crowd of several hundred people in Boca Raton outside a parking garage and office buildings.
"Are we ready for a big victory on Tuesday night?" he asked as he took the stage to cheers.
Desantis told the crowd he would keep Florida's economy growing.
"With me as governor we will build off the economic success Florida's had and make it even better," he said.
Desantis campaigned Sunday with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi by his side. Giuliani riled up the crowd with unsubstantiated insinuations that Democratic challenger Andrew Gillum would institute a state income tax if elected.
DeSantis, meanwhile, focused on many of the themes he's spoken about during the campaign. He reiterated his pledge not to raise taxes or expand Medicare and said he would prevent Florida from becoming a sanctuary state. He also spoke about his desire to replace 3 "liberal" retiring state Supreme Court justices with 3 "constitutionalists."
Interestingly, DeSantis said that if he wins the Governor's race, the state of Florida would be well-situated to do business with Brazil's President-Elect Jair Bolsonaro.
Earlier Sunday, at a speech in Daytona Beach before the event in Boca Raton, DeSantis vowed to protect gun rights.
"I think it's also important that the Governor protect our individual freedoms and constitutional rights and so I am also proud to say that as Governor I will stand up for our Second Amendment rights," he said.
Desantis also continued to criticize Gillum, painting him as soft on crime in Tallahassee.
"He has totally failed to keep Tallahassee safe," DeSantis said. "He doesn't believe in the mission of law enforcement."
But it seemed the biggest takeaway that DeSantis wanted to leave with the crowd full of people wearing "Make America Great Again" hats and carrying signs for President Trump, who's fully endorsed DeSantis, is that Gillum would raise taxes and hurt business in the state. Gillum has said that he wants to raise corporate taxes on some businesses to pay for raises for teachers.
"Here's what you need to know about him," DeSantis said of Gillum. "He's a career politician. He's always supported raising taxes every step for the way."
Desantis has a busy day Monday on his last chance to seal the deal with Florida voters. He has 5 events scheduled with Senator Marco Rubio but no events in South Florida. DeSantis will begin the day in Jacksonville and travel to Orlando, Vero Beach, Clearwater and Fort Walton.
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You can vote in person on Election Day, November 6, at your assigned precinct from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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