Posted on 02/25/2023 2:48:03 PM PST by Drew68
The group of Ron DeSantis’ top donors and supporters gathering in Palm Beach, Fla., this weekend includes some longtime backers of former President Donald Trump.
The Florida governor’s three-day retreat at the Four Seasons hotel — just four miles down the road from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate — kicked off Friday evening with a cocktail reception and dinner for the approximately 150 attendees. The event, billed as a celebration of the “Florida blueprint,” precedes a likely DeSantis presidential bid that would pit him against Trump. And the roster of people there shows that the governor is appealing to major GOP figures who’ve previously aligned themselves with the former president.
People spotted at the opening night of the conference included Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, who on Friday evening participated in a panel discussion DeSantis moderated on the “medical establishment.” Johnson has long been a staunch Trump ally: On Jan. 6, 2021, Johnson tried to arrange for a list of fake electors backing Trump to be handed to then-Vice President Mike Pence.
A Johnson spokesperson, however, said Johnson did not intend to endorse in the primary.
“Sen. Johnson historically does not endorse in primaries and plans to continue this trend and remain impartial in 2024,” said Corinne Day, a Johnson spokesperson.
Also seen was Arizona Republican Jim Lamon, a solar energy executive and Trump donor who aggressively aligned himself with the former president during his unsuccessful 2022 Senate bid. Lamon was also involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results showing President Joe Biden defeated Trump. Lamon was one of 11 GOP electors who signed a document claiming to be Arizona’s legitimate electors, which was mailed to the Senate and the National Archives.
Mick Mulvaney, who was Trump’s acting White House chief of staff, was also seen at the DeSantis retreat. Mulvaney left the administration following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, and he has harshly criticized the former president over his decision to wage a 2024 comeback, saying Trump is “the only Republican who could lose” the election.
Another major figure in the Republican donor world who attended DeSantis’ event is Roy Bailey, a longtime Texas fundraiser who helped lead Trump’s campaign finance committee. And the event also included several of DeSantis’ fellow governors, including Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, who benefited from a Trump-hosted fundraiser during his reelection bid last year, and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, who was also backed by Trump in his 2022 reelection campaign.
“Gov. Stitt believes Ron DeSantis has done an excellent job leading as Florida’s governor, especially through COVID, supporting law enforcement, reforming education and supporting parental rights,” said Carly Atchison, a spokesperson for Stitt, who met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago last year.
The retreat comes as DeSantis is increasing his national profile. The governor is set to publish a new book on Tuesday, and this past week, he appeared before law enforcement officers in Philadelphia, New York City and Chicago. DeSantis is also benefiting from a newly launched nonprofit group that could promote his policies. Those present at the conference said DeSantis made no mention of whether he planned to run for president, though many of those in attendance said they were eager to see him do so.
On Saturday, DeSantis is to hold another panel discussion with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, whose home state hosts the GOP’s first presidential nominating contest. A person close to Reynolds, however, said the governor did not plan to endorse in the primary. Reynolds, who chairs the Republican Governors Association, has also appeared with former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott in Iowa.
Other attendees spotted in the crowd included Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, Texas Rep. Chip Roy, Utah Sen. Mike Lee and 2022 Nevada Senate candidate Adam Laxalt, a longtime DeSantis friend. Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, a Trump ally who was once seen as a potential Trump administration CIA director, is another attendee. Conservative commentators Ann Coulter and Dana Loesch were also present.
The retreat caps off a major week in the Republican donor world. On Thursday evening, Trump hosted a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago, and on Friday, several prospective presidential candidates gathered in Austin, Texas, for a donor conference organized by longtime GOP strategist Karl Rove.
LOL
“Pretty much my entire circle of friends have been rabid Trump supporters since he came down the escalator. None of them are now.”
Pretty much my entire circle of friends have been rabid Trump supporters since he came down the escalator. All of them are now, more than ever.
Incidentally, the “none” you used reveals you to be a liar.
Maybe they're rallying behind someone with a record of winning elections?
That settles it then.
I can’t believe that people still think we have real elections. It is a joke that the GOP is happy to go along with.
Desantis has done a great job in Florida.
But he has not announced a run for President.
We will see if and when he announces.
I’m looking elsewhere after supporting Trump twice because he has moved the party left, too left for me.
- - - - - - -
Yes. Ending Roe v Wade is something only a extreme hard leftist could do!
Gas lighting is so yesterday, this kind as well as the kerosene variety.
You really think the voters “rejected” Trump candidates? We were out-balloted, NOT out-voted. Huge difference.
He will have to address these issues and others.
I see you bloviating - So step right up and DEFINE "true conservative".
this DeSanitis thing has a Romney for President feel to it
IMO the November 5, 2024 isn’t about electing Trump/Biden. It is about electing the first Female President of the USA.
“President Joe Biden announced his intention to run for reelection in 2024, with Vice President Kamala Harris joining him on the ticket once again.”
WHAT DOES THIS INDICATE FOR THE USA?
..A female President two years and one day the inauguration.
President Biden resigns and VP Harris becomes President Harris.
Then President Harris can legally serve 10 year minus one day
if she can be elected twice.
DeSantis
Ron DeSantis is a solid conservative.
Trump has more in common with Mitt Romney. They both have gun bans under their signatures.
Seriously, it happened after he was out of office. His SCOTUS pics helped, but he did not do it. More recently he said the pro-lifers cost the mid-term elections. https://angelusnews.com/news/life-family/pro-life-leaders-react-to-abortion-being-blamed-for-gop-midterm-failures/
Thank you for correcting my misspelling of Ron’s last name in your post. I respectfully disagree with you about his political position... I think DeSantis is a phoney.
Well it used to mean pro-life, pro-family, small government, fiscally conservative, anti-LGBTQ agenda. It didn’t mean big spending, partying with the likes of Santos at New years or hosting LGBTQ parties at mar-a-lago or blaming pro-lifers for the mid-term losses. It did not mean EO-ing WEF Agenda or tearing down conservatives instead of democrats. Why do you care, I already said if he wins the nom I’ll pull the lever.
DeSantis will likely emerge as the RINO supported candidate, and he also will be stabbed in the back.
We have been here before. Trump knows how to handle the RINOs now.....DeSantis apparently does not.
TRump already has a national organization. DeSantis does not and therefore must rely on RINOization, which will be his downfall if he wins the nomination. THe lefty Dems know this too, they desperately want DeSantis to run because the RINOs will be able to mold him.
The smart money is on Trump and will remain with TRump
I agree with you. They fear DJT and they know how effective it is to split the party by advocating for 2 different conservatives. DeSantis needs to come out and say he’s not running. He will be a force to be reckoned with in 2028 but he’ll be practically powerless if he plays the deep state’s game and throws his hat in the ring for 2024
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