Florida debate: DeSantis vows to put Crist 'out to pasture' as Democrat defends gender surgeries for minors

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed Monday to end the political career of his Democratic opponent Charlie Crist while the latter defended gender surgeries for minors during a fiery debate just two weeks ahead of the November general election.

"Well listen, I know that Charlie is interested in talking about 2024 and Joe Biden, but I just want to make things very, very clear: The only worn out, old donkey I'm looking to put out to pasture is Charlie Crist," DeSantis declared after Crist tried to force him to say whether he was planning to run for president or serve another full term as governor should he be re-elected.

The moment came as the two clashed over the economy and plans to tackle the historic inflation gripping the nation, brought on, DeSantis said, by the policies of President Joe Biden and Democrats like Crist.

DeSantis, who is widely seen as a potential challenger to Biden in 2024, didn't say whether he would serve a full second term as governor, but instead hit back at Crist with criticism over his tax policies when he served as governor from 2007 to 2011.