Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) campaigned for Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) in New York’s governor’s race on Long Island Saturday night in front of a large audience.
The gathering comes after Zeldin did well in a debate last week against Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), causing polls to tighten between the two candidates.
The event, held near Zeldin’s campaign offices in Hauppauge, had a half-mile-long line to enter according to National Review senior writer Dan McLaughlin.
NY1 reporter Bobby Cuza tweeted, “Largest gathering of the NY governor’s race so far. Long Island is out in force for the Zeldin-DeSantis event.”
According to National Review, state director Nick Langworthy set the tone for the event early on, saying Zeldin will be “our own Ron DeSantis” for New York.
“The number one issue I hear from folks who are fed up is that they are sick and tired of the crime that they witness, particularly in New York City,” DeSantis added. “Florida is a state of law and order.” I am a governor who is dedicated to law and order. If Lee Zeldin is elected, New York will be a law-and-order state.”
DeSantis said of Zeldin, “I’d like to see him go in there and release his own energy right here in the state of New York. As a result, I believe this is a crucial choice for the state of New York. Do you want to keep going down the same route that has seen you lose people, wealth, you name it? Or would you like to go in a different direction?”
Following the gathering, DeSantis turned to Twitter, where he uploaded photographs of the event and encouraged people to vote for Zeldin.
“New York deserves a leader who will reestablish law and order,” DeSantis said on Twitter. “@leezeldin is the right person for the task. Lee will also defend New Yorkers from unreasonable and liberty-infringing COVID restrictions. Zeldin’s win on November 8th will be heard around the world!”
“I just never get tired of the contrast,” one conservative tweeted after the event. “DeSantis likewise draws a large crowd, but instead of marketing himself and his personal political grudges, he spends his speech advocating the candidate he is there to support and their message.”
“One way to think of this is that it is the prologue to DeSantis campaign events,” NewsNation reporter Zaid Jilani said of the rally.
“DeSantis has gotten so far up in his home state that he’s campaigning in other states,” he continued. “That has nothing to do with the Florida election.”
