DeSantis Campaign Press Release - ICYMI: Ron DeSantis Joins CNN's Anderson Cooper and KCCI's Amanda Rooker Post-Debate

"I really represent a candidate running on bold colors, focusing on putting the interests of the American people first. She's really running on pale pastels, kind of the warmed-over corporatism, a U.N. style Republicanism that our voters have moved away from."

DES MOINES, Iowa – After beating Nikki Haley and winning tonight's CNN debate, Ron DeSantis spoke with CNN's Anderson Cooper and KCCI's Amanda Rooker. Read the highlights below.

Watch the full CNN interview HERE.

On how DeSantis supporters will be the most committed on caucus night:

I do better when I'm underestimated. I like being the underdog. And so, I'm not a prognosticator. I think if you look at what we've done here, the organization that we built, the tens of thousands of Iowans that have already committed to caucus, everything, we've done it the right way. We've gone to all ninety-nine counties. And I think you're seeing that. You're going to start to see that more and more even through the weekend...my people are going to come out in negative 20 [degrees]. They're going to come out and do it. But at the same time, you know, I'd rather be underestimated, so I hope everyone says all that and then on caucus night, you know, we're going to do well.

On Chris Christie's hot mic moment:

I've been to Fallujah and Ramadi. I mean, this is nothing. I did call [Chris Christie], just because I felt he was being treated poorly...and I think a lot of it is, and he and I have both kind of needled Nikki Haley on it, Chris is against Trump, right? Nikki is becoming a darling of the people who are more than ever Trump. And yet, she won't answer the question about whether she would accept the VP nod. And she gives all these mealy-mouthed responses. What's wrong with just saying it? No, I would not under any circumstances say that. And I think the fact that she has not done that is part of the reason Chris had been staying in. And I think that's part of the reason I think he's had those choice words.

On Nikki Haley's liberal billionaire donors:

She's got the founder of LinkedIn who's a liberal Democrat...she's got Blackrock CEO...we kneecapped ESG in Florida. We took money out, moved Blackrock out of our pension. She's bragged about being there with Larry Fink, he's the king of ESG. So, I mean, those people were never in my camp. She's got a lot of people who are, I think, more liberal donors. And then the question is, why? I think a lot of it is because they're never Trumpers. That's why I find it odd that she just won't say she won't be the VP.

Watch the full KCCI interview HERE.

On why he's the best candidate compared to Donald Trump and Nikki Haley:

We were able to do what I think that Iowans want to see: articulate a vision for leadership, but also hold accountable both Nikki Haley and Donald Trump. But we did do that at the appropriate times. You know, I think you have a contrast. I've done all 99 counties. We've worked really hard in the state. I think that's what you have to do. Nikki Haley, when she's in another state, she says Iowa's votes need to be corrected. I don't think Iowans need to be corrected. I think they take pride in this process. We also were able to talk about a lot of the things that she was talking about. I've already done this stuff. I did universal school choice. She did not. Kim Reynolds did here in Iowa. Of course, she has endorsed me. So, I think it was a contrast. But I really represent a candidate running on bold colors, focusing on putting the interests of the American people first. She's really running on pale pastels, kind of the warmed-over corporatism, a U.N. style Republicanism that our voters have moved away from. That's not what they want anymore. And I think you saw that contrast.

On how Trump is not working to earn the votes of Iowans and takes them for granted:

They talked about Donald Trump saying he was going to send in federal resources to go out for the inner city crime. He was president during the BLM riots. He did not go out and take care of those riots. We were telling him you have every right to do it. He was tweeting "LAW AND ORDER," ... we were able to hold them accountable for that and talk about that. Also some of the COVID authoritarianism that started under his watch with Dr. Fauci--that was wrong. We're going to bring a reckoning for that. And the fact that we have this terrible immigration crisis, and that if he had built the border wall, Biden would not have been able to bring in 8 million people. I do think though, you need to be on the stage. He thumbed his nose at the people of Iowa. He did a town hall here on another network because he didn't want to debate. He doesn't go out and do events where he takes questions from people. He'll swoop in or give a speech and leave. That's not the type of things that Iowans expect. You've got to earn this nomination. The fact that he's not been willing to debate the whole time-- I think Iowans think you got to get up there. You got to get under the lights. You got to take the hostile fire, and you got to be able to defend your record.