Your Florida Daily: GOP candidates hit Trump and back Israel, Disney sees rise in park attendance — except in Orlando

Highlights from the Republican debate

ORLANDO, Fla. – Republican presidential hopefuls back on the debate stage in South Florida.

With front runner former President Donald Trump skipping another debate, a big question for the Republican hopefuls was why they should be the alternative.

“Donald Trump’s a lot different guy than he was in 2016. He owes it to you to be on this stage and explain why he should get another chance,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said.

“I think he was the right president at the right time. I don’t think he’s the right president now,” former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said.

“Anybody who’s gonna be spending the next year and a half of their life, focusing on keeping themselves outta jail and courtrooms cannot lead this party or this country,” fired former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said.

Foreign policy was a major issue as war rages between Israel and Hamas.

“I would be telling Bibi ‘finish the job’ once and for all,” DeSantis said.

Meantime, Trump was just miles away from Wednesday’s debate holding his own rally.

“Somebody said, oh, some, one of the dumber ones, he doesn’t have the courage to stand up,” Trump said. “Well, listen, I’m standing in front of tens of thousands of people right now, and it’s on television. That’s a hell of a lot harder to do than a debate.”

During the event, Trump received the endorsement from Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, one of his former White House press secretaries.

Proposed Florida amendment would expand abortion access

A proposed constitutional amendment aimed at protecting abortion rights in Florida faces legal pushback from state leaders.

The measure would allow abortions to remain legal until the fetus is viable.

The group Floridians Protecting Freedom says it’s gotten nearly 500,000 signatures so far, meaning another 400,000 are needed by Feb. 1.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is asking the state Supreme Court to keep the measure off next year’s ballot saying the language could confuse voters.

News 6 political expert Jim Clark says if the court rules in Moody’s favor, supporters likely won’t have time to re-file.

“They’re worried that it will drive Democratic turnout and maybe influence an election. So they want those off the ballot and this is one way to do it.”

Floridians Protecting Freedom has until next Wednesday to respond to Moody’s challenge.

Disney, SeaWorld report lower results at Orlando parks

According to a new earnings report released Wednesday, Disney’s parks division saw a 23% increase in profit during the 2023 fiscal year, totaling nearly $9 billion.

The company credits Disneyland in California along with international parks and cruises.

But Disney World is in a slump with CEO Bob Iger blaming wage inflation and Magic Kingdom’s 50th anniversary celebration, which led to large crowds last fiscal year.

Meantime, SeaWorld reports a nearly 3% drop in attendance during the most recent quarter compared to the same period last year.

The company blames bad weather for the decline.

Random Florida Fact

Guy Bradley was Florida’s first Game Warden.

Bradley is the son of one of the famous barefoot mailmen and became Florida’s first game warden in Monroe County after witnessing the devastation of bird plume hunting which was funded by a fashion craze in the early 20th century.

He patrolled the area from Naples to Key Largo and the Everglades single-handedly.

But in 1905, while confronting two men he suspected were poaching egrets, the suspects opened fire with their rifle, killing Bradley.

The men were found not guilty.

The warden’s wife and two young children were given a home in Key West, paid for by donations secured by the Florida Audubon Society.

Thanks, Jay, for sending over that nugget of history.

If you have a random Florida fact you’d like to share, email me at kscales@wkmg.com.