Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) joined Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) in a rally for the GOP gubernatorial hopeful on Long Island on Saturday evening. DeSantis blasted New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and other Democrats for coddling the criminals terrorizing Empire State residents and driving them to move away to Florida and other states.
DeSantis is himself running for reelection in the Sunshine State on November 8, and is a strong favorite against Democrat Charlie Crist. He is perhaps the most popular governor in the nation, based mostly on his defiance of the Biden administration and defense of the freedoms of Florida residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many see DeSantis as a leading candidate for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024.
NY deserves a leader who will restore law & order. @leezeldin is the man for the job.
Lee will also protect NYers against irrational & liberty-infringing COVID mandates.
The Zeldin victory on Nov 8th will be a shot heard ‘round the world!
Support him:https://t.co/o1ZqqMuBBZ pic.twitter.com/SZol7Plwu2
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantisFL) October 30, 2022
DeSantis praised Zeldin for his pledge to remove Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on his first day in office and offered sharp criticism of current New York crime policies, especially its liberal bail reform laws.
The Florida governor said the crime problems in New York are “totally self-inflicted” because of the elimination of cash bail, slashing police budgets, and allowing “rogue prosecutors” to ignore laws they do not agree with. He said: “Of course you are going to have people that aren’t able to do the basics without fearing for their safety.”
DeSantis told the enthusiastic crowd that Zeldin “will not coddle” the people terrorizing the streets in the state. “He will hold them accountable and you will be safer as a result,” he added.
DeSantis also told voters that Zeldin would protect them in ways similar to how he handled the George Floyd riots in 2020. He said Zeldin would not let their “cities burn down” or be “destroyed.”
He also bashed Hochul for comments she made in August about New York Republicans. She told them to “jump on a bus and head down to Florida where you belong.” DeSantis asked, “How pathetic is that?”
During his remarks, Zeldin said New Yorkers were leaving the state in record numbers because the state has become “too expensive, unsafe, and restrictive” under the control of liberal Democrat politicians.
A poll published by Quinnipiac earlier this month indicates that Zeldin has been closing the gap against Hochul, who led in polls through the summer by double digits. Hochul now holds a narrow lead over Zeldin, 50% to 46%.
