Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) labeled a question from Fox News host Dana Perino as “disrespectful” after she asked them to pick a candidate to vote off “the island.”
During the second Republican primary debate held at the Reagan Presidential Library in California on Wednesday evening, Perino informed the candidates that it was “obvious” if they all remained in the race, former President Donald Trump would win the Republican nomination.
“With all due respect, I mean we’re here,” DeSantis told Perino. “We’re happy to debate. I think that that’s disrespectful to my fellow competitors.”
OMG Perino asks the candidates to vote "someone off the island." The candidates flat out refuse to do it. pic.twitter.com/OQrYeVr6Ce
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 28, 2023
“It’s now obvious that if you all stay in the race, former President Donald Trump wins the nomination,” Perino told the candidates. “None of you have indicated that you are dropping out. So, which one of you on stage should be voted out?”
Perino then instructed each candidate to grab their markers and pick a candidate to vote “off the island.”
“Please use your markers to write your choice on the notepad in front of you,” Perino continued. “Fifteen seconds starting now.”
Trump, who was not among the candidates present at the Republican debate has remained in the first place in Republican presidential primary polls.
A poll from The Economist/YouGov conducted between Sept. 23-26 showed 53% of Republicans said they would vote for Trump, 14% said they would vote for DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) received 7%, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy received 5%, and former Vice President Mike Pence received 4%.
Another poll from McLaughlin & Associates conducted between Sept. 22-26 showed 51% of voters said they would vote for Trump, 12% for DeSantis, 7% for Haley, 5% for Pence and Ramaswamy.