DeSantis draws massive crowd for Zeldin's New York rally

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stumped for Rep Lee Zeldin, the GOP’s nominee for New York governor, on Saturday evening – and supporters showed up in force.

Widely considered a frontrunner in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries, DeSantis urged the Long Island rally to turn out and vote for Zeldin, saying electing a Republican governor in the deep blue state “will be the 21st century version of the shot heard round the world.”

INCREDIBLE turnout tonight on Long Island for our Get Out The Vote Rally with Florida Governor @RonDeSantisFL! THOUSANDS strong showed up for our event on only one day’s notice. 10 days until New York elects a new Governor. It can’t happen soon enough! pic.twitter.com/0rMVuNsYzW

— Lee Zeldin (@leezeldin) October 30, 2022

The Florida governor touted Zeldin’s tough stance on crime and said New York needed to “stop coddling criminals.”  

“I would say the number one thing I hear, where people get so fed up, is they are sick and tired of the crime that you see, particularly in New York City,” said DeSantis. “Florida is a law-and-order state. I am a law-and-order governor. If Lee Zeldin gets into office, New York will become a law-and-order state.”

“You cut police budgets, you do things like eliminate cash bail, and you have rogue prosecutors who won’t even enforce laws that they disagree with,” he added. “Of course you’re going to have streets that are less safe.

Some observers noted that the massive New York rally may be a "prologue" for DeSantis' 2024 campaign, should he choose to run. Zeldin claimed that the crowd numbered in the thousands. 

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

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Zeldin’s Democratic opponent, has pivoted to economic and public safety issues in recent days as the Republican congressman rose from long-shot to serious threat. A poll as recent as August showed Zeldin down 24 points against the incumbent governor.

Recent polls still show Hochul ahead by about seven points, according to RealClearPolitics’ polling average, but national Democrats are not taking Zeldin’s challenge lightly. President Joe Biden personally flew out to boost Hochul at a Syracuse rally on Friday.

Zeldin has also been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, who many expect to compete against DeSantis for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.

“Lee was strong on the Border, Crime, our great Military & Vets (like few others!), and fought hard to protect our 2nd Amendment, and succeeded. Lee Zeldin is a WINNER who GOT THINGS DONE. He will be a GREAT Governor of New York, and has my Complete & Total Endorsement. GOOD LUCK LEE!,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.