Ron DeSantis Instructed to ‘Show Emotion’ at GOP Debate: Leaked Memo

In advance of next Wednesday’s Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee, a super PAC that has essentially taken over Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign has posted and then erased a memo describing its strategy for success at the event.

Several hundred pages of unfettered advice, research memos, and polls were posted online by a political super PAC affiliated with the Florida governor’s presidential campaign, the New York Timesreports.

One now-deleted document obtained by the Times suggests DeSantis should "take a sledgehammer" to Vivek Ramaswamy, a political newcomer. When Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor, attacks Donald Trump, it is imperative to “defend Donald Trump.” The memo also instructed him to target President Joe Biden and the media three to five times.

Axiom Strategies, owned by Jeff Roe, chief strategist for DeSantis's super PAC, Never Back Down, published the papers on its website.

Roger Ailes' "Orchestra Pit" strategy for debate is discussed in the memo.

As the late Fox News fixture described, success is achieved through strategic attention-getting.

“Let's face it, there are three things that the media are interested in: pictures, mistakes, and attacks,” Ailes told Judy Woodruff during a 1988 interview, Rolling Stonereported. “That’s the one sure way of getting coverage. You try to avoid as many mistakes as you can. You try to give them as many pictures as you can. And if you need coverage, you attack, and you will get coverage. It’s my orchestra pit theory of politics. You have two guys on stage, and one guy says, ‘I have a solution to the Middle East problem,’ and the other guy falls in the orchestra pit. Who do you think is going to be on the evening news?”

DeSantis should create several orchestra pit moments, according to the memo.

Calling Ramaswamy “fake Vivek” or “Vivek the fake” was one strategy the document suggested for the Wisconsin event.

Also, he should “Defend Trump when Chris Christie attacks him,” the memo says.

“Trump isn’t here, so let’s just leave him alone. He’s too weak to defend himself here. We’re all running against him. According to the document, I don’t think we want to join forces with someone on this stage who’s auditioning for a show on MSNBC,” DeSantis should say.

Additionally, the memo says DeSantis should be likable, something he has struggled with since entering the national spotlight. He is perceived to be unlikable and does not like to engage in retail politics. DeSantis seems pained and awkward when surrounded by everyday Americans on the campaign trail.

“Invoke a personal anecdote story about family, kids, Casey,” the memo read.

“Showing emotion,” it added.

Due to the law prohibiting Super PACs from strategizing with political campaigns, they sometimes publish polling and other materials online, but the information is usually difficult to find.

It is possible to be exposed to the media or opponents, as well as to embarrassment, by releasing internal documents.

Although the press or the opposition may gain access to polling documents, outside groups commonly post polling documents publicly to avoid violating laws prohibiting coordination.

Last week, Trump’s campaign trolled DeSantis at the Iowa State Fair, fling a banner behind an airplane that read, “Be likable, Ron.”

WATCH: ‘Be Likable, Ron!’ Banner Flown Above Iowa State Fair Ahead Of DeSantis Appearancewww.youtube.com