Posted on 01/28/2023 12:14:47 PM PST by Drew68
Advisers to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are actively preparing for a possible presidential run, according to two Republicans with knowledge of the conversations who described meetings and preliminary staffing moves — the latest indication that DeSantis is laying a foundation for a national campaign.
DeSantis’s political team has already identified multiple potential hires in early primary states such as New Hampshire and Iowa, according to one of the Republicans, who said experienced operatives have expressed interest. This Republican also said that Phil Cox and Generra Peck — two key members of DeSantis’s 2022 reelection team — are involved in ongoing talks about 2024.
Another Republican with knowledge of the conversations said DeSantis advisers met recently to discuss the 2024 election. The Republicans spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private talks.
Some in DeSantis’s orbit expect Cox and Peck would play roles in a DeSantis run, if it happens. Cox, a former executive director of the Republican Governors Association, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, nor did Peck, who was the campaign manager for DeSantis’s decisive midterm victory over Democrat Charlie Crist.
Spokespeople for DeSantis did not respond to a request for comment Friday.
DeSantis is widely seen as a formidable potential challenger to former president Donald Trump, who is hitting the trail for the first time this weekend since his November campaign announcement, with planned Saturday stops in New Hampshire and South Carolina. Some recent polling has shown DeSantis pulling ahead of Trump, including a survey released this week that had the governor leading the ex-president among likely Republican primary voters in New Hampshire.
Bill Bowen, a New Hampshire GOP delegate, said that enthusiasm for a DeSantis campaign is high in his state. “I’m convinced there’s a good network of establishment party people in New Hampshire..."
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Awaiting Florida's legislature to wrap up their session in May, during which time they'll likely pass a law (that DeSantis will certainly sign) allowing him to run for president without resigning his governorship.
Is there a need for such a law? People run for political office all the time, without resigning from an elective office they are currently in.
I knew this was going to happen. This will cause chaos to the already fractured party.
Florida has a "Resign to Run" law. Different interpretations state that it only applies to lower offices and not President or Vice President.
Might be best to pass a straight-forward law to clear up any confusion.
Unless and until he secures FL’s elections, I wouldn’t give him a first look let alone a second.
No, it won't. Trump is the current front-runner but he's not entitled to a coronation.
If he wants the nomination, he needs to earn it.
May the best man win.
“I knew this was going to happen. This will cause chaos to the already fractured party.”
No chaos. Just politics. There will be a primary convention, DeSantis will be nominated and all but a few never-DeSantis people will unite behind him.
Oh, shut up already. You sound like a broken record.
"DESANTIS STILL HASN'T SECURED FLORIDA'S ELECTIONS!!!"
“Unless and until he secures FL’s elections, I wouldn’t give him a first look let alone a second.”
He already has.
” Trump is the current front-runner but he’s not entitled to a coronation.”
Among the declared candidates.
Luckily we have Ronna McDaniel to sort it out…
I’ve been saying this since Nov 8…….when one of our Florida reps (local) came flat out and said it
Not pleased then and not pleased now
Baloney sausage!
This WILL divide the Party
Trump haS already earned his nomination!
Very true. He's the front-runner of one.
Actually, according to the FEC, there's currently 145 people who have officially filed to run for the GOP nomination.
I've only heard of one of them.
I knew this was going to happen. This will cause chaos to the already fractured party.
***************
Which is why I doubt DeSantis runs in 2024, besides not one of the DeSantis people mentioned in this article was willing to be quoted for the Washington Post.
Without DeSantis, anti Trump partisans in the Republican Party are “up a river without a paddle.”
They’ll be thrashing around all over the place with their hands in the water, trying to get “somewhere.”
He has not earned it. Not by a long shot. Trump needs to convince me that he's learned from his mistakes and that he can win in 2024 and right now, I'm not convinced of either.
wishful thinking...
“The Republicans spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private talks.” I hate the Washington Post.
Matt Gaetz said in a recent interview, that he is going to support Trump for President in 2024, and is urging DeSantis to wait until 2028 to run.
This is important, because not only is the Florida Congressman a close friend and confidant of DeSantis, Gaetz has professionally supported DeSantis by serving as the co-chairman of the DeSantis transition team once he had been elected Governor.
DeSantis is obviously his own man, but he should be wise to note that there are many like Gaetz, who will (unfortunately in my opinion) continue to support Trump, even if DeSantis does announce his intention to run.
Even worse, are the EverTrumpers, who number in the millions and have pledged not to vote for anyone else but Trump, no matter what. I consider that completely outrageous, but considering nothing has shaken their die hard loyalty to Trump yet, the threat is likely real, and dangerous to any other Republican seeking the office this cycle.
I could be wrong, but the only way I see DeSantis running is if/when Trump self immolates and is completely out of the picture. Then and only then will DeSantis be there to rescue the party.
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