Gov. DeSantis and Florida surgeon general warn against new COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine

FILE - Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX News Channel, Aug. 23, 2023, in Milwaukee. DeSantis says he got a $1 million cash bump after Wednesday night鈥檚 presidential debate. His campaign says that amount came in over the first 24 hours after DeSantis and seven other contenders met in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) 鈥 Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says he got a $1 million cash bump after Wednesday night's presidential debate.

That amount came in over the first 24 hours after DeSantis and seven other contenders met onstage in Milwaukee, according to his campaign.

In a statement to The Associated Press, campaign manager James Uthmeier said that DeSantis 鈥渟howed Wednesday night that he is a proven leader who will deliver results as president, and we are thrilled with the flood of support we have received since his debate victory.鈥

DeSantis, who has been running second to the GOP front-runner, former President raised more than $20 million for the first six weeks of his campaign but also burned through nearly $8 million over the same period. With $12.2 million on hand at the end of June, his campaign in July to help reduce operating expenses.

After being briefed in Milwaukee by top DeSantis campaign staffers, several donors told AP they were pleased with the governor鈥檚 performance, as further evidenced by the fundraising.

鈥淚t鈥檚 showing with the contributions that are coming in,鈥 Pete Snyder, an investor and DeSantis donor, said Thursday. 鈥淲e had a huge day.鈥

Like many who participated in the debut debate, DeSantis returned to the campaign trail. After speaking at the Republican 好色tv Committee's summer meeting, the former collegiate baseball player and the 鈥淔ield of Dreams鈥 movie site on Thursday, with planned for Monday.

Biotech entrepreneur 鈥 whose campaign told The Associated Press he since the debate, with an average donation of $38 鈥 was also expected to stump in Iowa over the weekend.

South Carolina Sen. 鈥 who made a direct fundraising appeal onstage in Milwaukee, asking viewers to go to his campaign website 鈥渇or more information or to make a contribution" 鈥 headed to New Hampshire on Friday. He has a planned next week, as does former South Carolina Gov.

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Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price in New York contributed to this report.

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Meg Kinnard can be reached at

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