To start off the debate, candidates were asked to lay out their economic arguments by way of explaining why a viral song decrying high taxes and the wealth of the elite had caught fire.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis used his response to the popularity of Oliver Anthony's "Rich Men North of Richmond" to blame President Joe Biden for what he characterized as "American decline." DeSantis also took an opportunity to go after Biden's son Hunter Biden, saying he made "hundreds of thousands of dollars on lousy paintings" while Americans "are working hard, and you can't afford groceries a car or a new home."
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said he agreed "predominantly" with DeSantis' response but argued he can be a consensus builder since he was "elected as a conservative Republican in a blue state."
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