Posted on 04/21/2023 11:29:35 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
The backing of 11 Republican lawmakers out of 20 in DeSantis’s own back yard has raised questions about his viability as a competitor to Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
While DeSantis has not officially declared he is running, he is widely expected to announce a bid for the presidency after Florida’s legislative session wraps up in May. In the meantime, he has stepped up his travel around the country, and is set to go on an international trip to meet with U.S. allies Israel, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.
This week he met with GOP lawmakers in Washington, DC, and a DeSantis political aide reportedly called Florida Republicans asking them not to endorse Trump — which makes the recent backing of several more Florida Republican lawmakers even more damaging to DeSantis.
So far, Florida GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz, Anna Paulina Luna, Byron Donalds, Cory Mills, Vern Buchanan, Gus Bilirakis, Carlos Gimenz, John Rutherford, Greg Steube, Brian Mast, and Mike Waltz have all endorsed Trump.
Waltz’s endorsement, first reported by Breitbart News, was particularly significant, given that he took over DeSantis’s former district.
Other GOP lawmakers have lined up behind Trump, including Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX), who announced his support moments after leaving the D.C. meeting with DeSantis.
Some lawmakers have begun openly criticizing DeSantis. According to Politico Playbook, Steube said he never once heard back from DeSantis’s office despite repeated calls — until Trump starting picking up Florida congressional endorsements. In contrast, he said Trump was the first person he remembers calling him after he was hospitalized in a tree-trimming accident.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
“I sat right next to DeSantis for two years on the Foreign Affairs Committee, and he never said a single word to me,” Trott said. “I was new to Congress, and he didn’t introduce himself or even say hello.”
“I go to my first hearing early, and DeSantis showed up right at the gavel time and didn’t say hello or introduce himself,” Trott told Politico. “And then the next hearing, the same thing happened. I think the third time it happened, I thought, ‘Oh, this guy’s not ever going to say hello to me.’” He said he eventually introduced himself to DeSantis.
Trott acknowledged that while DeSantis was talented at pressing his political ambitions, he was not likable.
“He never developed any relationships with other members that I know of. You’d never see him talking on the floor with other people or palling around. He’s just a very arrogant guy, very focused on Ron DeSantis,” Trott said.
“Ask and ye shall receive.”
Trump asked and got.
Primaries exist so ordinary people have a say in selecting candidates.
Primaries matter, endorsements are merely nice to have.
Trump is a “people person”.
DeSantis is a taciturn, tough fighter.
If I want a friend, DJT would do nicely.
If I want a President, my primary choice is likely to be DeSantis.
Only Trump can finish the job he started, God Willing.
In DC, bastards win.
Gimme a bastard.
DeSantis should wait until 2028.
Karl Rove, Paul Ryan, and the Bushes are pushing him into this disastrous decision.
Absolutely hilarious!
DeSantis should have sat down and shut up for 4 years. He had plenty of time, but he couldn’t resist.
“Only Trump can finish the job he started, God Willing.”
Newt Gingrich got a lot done in a short time. He came prepared.
I want a people person and a fighter.
I'm choosing Trump.
I’d guess ((SWAG)) Ron was caught between his influential RINO friends encouraging him to run, and an overly ambitious wife who wants to be the focal point of a next Camelot Dream in the White House.
Neither, if true, has served him well.
Did Trump ever visit Free Republic?
In what world was newt potus?
Trump fought every Democratic ‘cockroach’ that crawled out, while the big Treasury steal continued without hinderance.
I like Ron. He is a solid governor, but I said all along he needs more seasoning for a national platform. He has a 70% majority in the house and senate in Florida, so he gets done most of what he wants, yet has not faced an adversarial congress yet to test him.
You are an idiot, sorry to be so blunt that, makes no sense...just some talking head talking point for low information voters...said the same thing about GWB. I can’t wait to see your faces when Desantis absolutely implodes worst than Jeb Bush...TDS victims judgement is colored when it comes to Trump...Desantis is a bad candidate regardless of Trump.
No way DeSantis will succeed and if he tries he moves to idiot in my book.
Newt Gingrich was in Congress. And he had bills written ready to be enacted.
Trump had wonderful thoughs and wonderful unactionable words.
The error of thinking in regards to Ron DeSantis is not about his viability as a presidential candidate, but in the timing of making that attempt in 2024. Donald Trump shall have either termed out by 2028, or the probability of a fourth run for the presidency will dip to about the level once held by Harold Stassen, who got into the running for the presidency some nine times, starting in 1948. Thomas Dewey prevailed that year, to lose to Harry Truman, and Dwight Eisenhower easily took the nomination and the presidency in 1952.
Adlai Stevenson was anointed by the Democrats in both 1952 and 1956, losing to Eisenhower each time. By that time, Stassen had pretty much become an asterisk, “also ran”.
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