Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is determined to make it on his own. According to sources close to the Florida Governor, he doesn’t plan to ask for former President Trump’s endorsement for his re-election campaign, a shocking move for Republicans looking to make waves in this year’s midterm elections.
Politico reports:
According to four people connected to the governor and former president, DeSantis has not asked Trump for a formal endorsement and isn’t planning to. It’s a clear sign that DeSantis, who more than four years ago was a little-known congressman from northeast Florida, has risen high in the GOP stratosphere.
DeSantis’ reluctance to seek the former president’s public support comes as the Florida governor prepares for a likely 2024 White House bid, even if Trump also runs in 2024 — setting up a potential clash between two powerful figures in the GOP.
“[DeSantis is] a Cat 5 hurricane in Florida politics — and in a good way if you are a Republican,” said Anthony Pedicini, a veteran GOP consultant in Florida. “He is a force of nature.”
DeSantis’s choice to outwardly not seek Trump’s endorsement comes as rumors swirl the Florida Republican could be angling toward a presidential campaign in 2024, a potential challenge to the former President who hasn’t shied away from publicizing his interest in launching a third presidential campaign.
A recent New Hampshire poll reported that Ron DeSantis was leading against Donald Trump amongst likely Republican voters.
The Daily Caller reports:
DeSantis garnered 39% support in the poll of 318 likely GOP primary voters, followed by Trump with 37%. Former Vice President Mike Pence received 9% support, and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley garnered 6%. No other candidate mentioned in the poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire from June 16-20, received more than 1% support. The poll had a margin of error of 5.5%, meaning that DeSantis and Trump were effectively tied.
