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.
Of course, Floridians are going to turn out for a popular Republican governor, regardless of who else is running for President.
If President Trump held a rally next week at the same place, he'd get just as large (if not more) a turnout as DeSantis did.
-PJ
“he said the pro-lifers cost the mid-term elections.”
Irrelevant.
“it happened after he was out of office”
“it happened”
What matters.
So the same Justices that refused to hear his 2020 election cases kicked back abortion to the states and you somehow believe it’ll work for pro-lifers? 🤣
Besides I think you missed the first part of the conversation.
Ban abortion, like some other countries, then it’d be something.
“Ban abortion, like some other countries”
- - - - - - -
And if he did so, then you would demand some other thing.
What President banned abortion?
Trump came closer to that than any other President. Bush, Reagan couldn’t end Roe v Wade and appointed judges that voted for it.
How was it ended? It was moved to the states. Abortions are still being done, all over the U.S.
Abortions are still being done, all over the U.S.
- - - - - -
Trump is not, never was President of any state.
Done voting for RINOS. Trump is the ONLY candidate who is not owned by the global power elites.
You must be a Q-ball because this is an absurd conversation. This conversation is over.
Nothing more absurd than saying Trump moved the Republican party to the left. It was the first time in a long time when conservative goals were achieved. The EPA, etc., there is a very long list.
You have sourced Politico.
Might as well be Joy Behar.
What’s thins?
It’s for you.
…but we lost.
Everybody gets a cut.
Yes.
He resonates with the True USA Freedom Lovers.
Call me a liar if that makes you feel good. That is my experience even if it is not yours. Trump fatigue is real. The reality is that if Desantis runs Trump will likely not be the nominee.
I already have DeSantis fatigue which smells the same as Cruz fatigue used to when he ran against Trump except Cruz was running against Trump.
Same financial backers, same odor.
See tagline.
The whole point of this thread exposes the leftist push for DeSantis. We know exactly what's going on here. Are you confused?
Given that Pres Trump had the ENTIRE federal monster and damn near ALL of Congress working against him at every turn.
Oh wait…. DeSantis will sprinkle his Magic Dust and all will be well, right?
* * * *
LOL. Thanks for the reality check, qaz123. How quickly folks forget the accomplishments and magnetism of President Trump and the MAGA movement he started.
Trump is still our best shot for returning the federal government to We The People instead of lining the pockets of the neo-cons, the corporate snakes, the woke “I’m a victim” class, the Zelenskys, and the RINO/Dem/Uniparty lizards.
Much needs to get done!
Very cool image there, V K! You Da Man! or Way to Go, Girl!
That is pretty much how I view it. By himself, Trump as President accomplished many meaningful things.
I wonder how much more he might have gotten done if even a portion of his own party had worked with and supported him, rather than actually openly working against him or simply retreating into a shell because of mean tweets, orange hair, or whatever.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.