The super PAC supporting Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) in his presidential bid has a plan for the Republican National Committee's first primary debate next week: defend former President Donald Trump "in absentia," attack fellow candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who is threatening him in some polls, and tell an anecdote about his wife and children while "showing emotion."

In a memo posted to strategy firm Axiom's website before being deleted, Never Back Down laid out the primary goals for DeSantis in the RNC debate on Aug. 23. Among these goals were: “1. Attack Joe Biden and the media 3-5 times. 2. State GRD’s positive vision 2-3 times. 3. Hammer Vivek Ramaswamy in a response. 4. Defend Donald Trump in absentia in response to a Chris Christie attack.”

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DeSantis is referred to as "GRD" in the document.

The memo was obtained and reported on by the New York Times before its deletion.

According to the document, DeSantis should "take a sledge-hammer to Vivek Ramaswamy." It suggested he brand the fellow candidate as "Fake Vivek" or "Vivek the Fake."

Ramaswamy responded to the report on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. "Another boring, establishment attack from Super PAC-creation 'Robot Ron' who is literally taking lame, pre-programmed attack lines against me for next week’s debate. 'Hammer Ramaswamy,'" he wrote.

Ramaswamy's deputy communications director, Stefan Mychajliw, weighed in, saying he liked his boss's nickname for DeSantis. "In my humble opinion, DeSantis is also along the lines of 'Jeb Junior.' A failed politician dropping like a rock in presidential polls," he said, referring to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's 2016 presidential bid.

In the memo, DeSantis is instructed to "invoke a personal anecdote story about family, kids, Casey, showing emotion."

The campaign has been highlighting DeSantis's young family on the trail, which draws a contrast between himself and most other candidates. His wife, Casey DeSantis, has been active and prominent in the campaign effort. The Florida governor recently sat for an interview with Time, in which he emphasized the effect being a father has on his policy prescriptions, particularly in education. He further explained how this bolsters his position as the "parent's candidate."

DeSantis's campaign, the Never Back Down PAC, and a representative for Axiom Strategies did not provide comment to the Washington Examiner.

Regarding the leak, Trump senior adviser Jason Miller said in a statement, "From ‘Be Likable’ to ‘Show Emotion,’ the people who know Ron DeSanctimonious best think the least of him. This only adds to the expectations game challenges for DeSanctus, who has to receive a 7- or 8-point bump coming out of the debate to justify staying in the race.”

News of the memo comes as candidates prepare to face off in next week's debate. Trump's participation status is uncertain, but DeSantis expects to be the biggest target for other candidates whether Trump is there or not. Strategists have also predicted this, suggesting that most candidates are afraid to attack Trump.

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"Every candidate on and off the debate stage will have their knives out for Ron DeSantis because they know this is a two-man race. If DeSantis wasn't the best candidate to beat Joe Biden, Donald Trump wouldn't have spent over $20 million attacking him. See you in Milwaukee," campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday.

Never Back Down shared a video on social media on Wednesday accusing Trump of being "too weak to debate," referencing his indecision on the subject. Trump's campaign has maintained his attendance at the event is unlikely.