While Donald Trump remains shy about running out of the White House for a second time in 2020,4 attention is turning to another name in the Republican Party that could very well get the former president a fight for his money.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has emerged as a possible candidate for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination.
In fact, DeSantis beat Trump in a recent straw poll asking conservatives who they’d like to see at the top of the ticket in 2024.
That opinion poll was taken earlier this month at the Western Conservative Summit, which asked 1,114 attendees to check off as many candidates as they would like to see running in 2024 from a list of top candidates.
DeSantis, 43, was ticked off by 71.0 percent of respondents, Trump by 67.8, and Senator Ted Cruz in third place by 28.7 percent. DeSantis also won the straw poll last year.
DeSantis’ rising star in the ranks of the GOP is said to have shaken the former president so much that he’s now looking at various avenues to thwart the Florida governor’s plans for his own presidential nomination. That includes Trump starting his 2024 from the Sunshine State and throwing a huge party near the governor’s mansion.
Donald Trump has yet to commit to a 2024 White House run, but sources say the former president is concerned about other “rising stars” in the GOP
Though Trump wants to act as kingmaker when it comes to the GOP, his star has faded somewhat as some Republicans grow weary of the “big lie” that the 2020 election was stolen.
Trump’s hold on the party has also taken a hit following increased scrutiny of the January 6, 2021 riots that led to a US Capitol siege in Washington DC
DeSantis could be the fresh start the GOP is looking for — able to embrace the core values of Trumpism but without his two impeachments or the loss of seven million votes at the end of his first term.
DeSantis is favorite to comfortably win re-election in November, which he could then use as a launch pad for a 2024 nomination whether or not Trump decides to run again.
“Right now, there’s no real party standard-bearer, and DeSantis is beginning to define the post-Trump party in many eyes,” veteran Republican agent Tyler Sandberg told Politico. “He argues more about politics and less about his Twitter account.”
DeSantis has not yet commented on the speculation, but collects donations in other states in addition to his own.
One plan could be to announce as early as this summer that Ron DeSantis is running for re-election as governor of Florida
Trump’s concerns have grown following a recent straw poll in which DeSantis slapped Trump when asked conservatives who they’d like to see win
But Trump may be looking to strike early, and is considering launching a campaign for the presidency from Florida later this summer to send a message to DeSantis.
Trump’s idea would be to hold a conspicuous rally ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.
Holding in Florida would further cement his dominance over DeSantis, he believes.
It has even been suggested to me that Trump has asked his staff to look for suitable locations, preferably near the Florida Governor’s mansion in Tallahassee, to send him a message.
‘Once he approached the Florida [launch] The scenario was quickly followed by commenting on how terrible DeSantis was at public speaking and dominating an audience… [and that he’s] he lacks so much charisma and is so boring that Florida Republicans would dump Ron for Trump in a heartbeat [in a 2024 match-up]’ a source told Rolling Stone.
Trump to tell people around him how he thinks DeSantis is “overrated” or “very overrated”!
Neither Trump nor DeSantis have yet officially committed to running for the presidency
Aid officials are said to have asked Trump to wait as long as possible before making the announcement, as it would remove all the benefits of his current fundraising model, as all the money would have to go to the campaign.
But Trump is keen to throw a wrench into the work and upset any other potential GOP candidates who might be considering shooting on Pennsylvania Avenue.
In any case, it is clear that Trump would not give up his right to vote for a second term without an internal party fight.
“DeSantis is a newer, fresher face. The age difference between DeSantis and Biden would show a contrast between young and old that would cut across party lines,” said Dan Eberhart, a major Republican donor who has donated to the Trump campaign in the past.
“Trump’s profile is big, but we did it [lose] both the House of Representatives and the Senate under his authority. I would reluctantly give Trump [again] if he were the candidate, but I hope the next candidate’s initials are not DJT.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis beat former President Trump in a straw poll asking conservatives who they want to see at the top of the ticket in 2024