Posted on 04/10/2024 3:39:18 PM PDT by conservative98
RON DESANTIS IS BACK TO RUNNING Florida’s government. But he hasn’t really stopped running for president.
Next month, DeSantis hosts a two-day presidential-donor gathering at the Hard Rock Hotel in South Florida that’s billed as—don’t call it a “fundraiser”—an “Investor Appreciation Retreat.” It’s the latest phase of an image makeover DeSantis started after he officially dropped out of the 2024 race on January 21 and endorsed Donald Trump.
For the past month, DeSantis has hosted one-on-one thank-you calls with donors, small meetings with more of these “investors” in Naples and in Miami, and conference calls with former volunteers.
In a rarity for DeSantis, he’s expressing some regrets, notably about the way his star-crossed campaign and super PAC stiff-armed the national media.
“I should’ve done as much media as I could because the election was directly a reflection of how much earned media each candidate got,” DeSantis told one group, according to a participant who heard the remarks and relayed them on condition of anonymity. (Another source confirmed the substance of the remarks.)
Coming from a politician who isn’t known for introspection or personal accountability, this admission of error was the clearest sign yet that DeSantis is already laying the groundwork for 2028.
[CUT]
DeSantis also seems to think that he might have had a chance if only Trump hadn’t been indicted. “After the indictments, Trump dominated the news cycle,” DeSantis has said to others. “We couldn’t get any oxygen.”
DeSantis also begrudgingly told them he entered the presidential race too late. He waited until late May 2023 even though Trump announced a week after the November 2022 elections and Haley joined the race in February 2023.
Those who understand DeSantis’s style of thinking say they wouldn’t be surprised if DeSantis learns this particular lesson so well that he announces his next presidential campaign before his term as governor ends in January 2027.
[CUT]
A MONTH AFTER DROPPING OUT, DeSantis began his thank you tour and promptly ran afoul of Trump due to a leaked recording of a 30-minute teleconference with Republican supporters who had backed his presidential campaign. Trump’s team took special umbrage with the way DeSantis gratuitously side-swiped Trump co-campaign manager Susie Wiles, a former DeSantis adviser he came to resent and purged in 2019.
“We were often asked if we would ever stop hitting Ron,” tweeted Taylor Budowich, executive director of the pro-Trump MAGA Inc. super PAC, last month. “The standard response became: it stops when he’s fat again. Now that the time has come, I think we’ll reconsider.”
A week later, at a private “investor” meeting in Naples, DeSantis was more circumspect in discussing Trump, according to an insider familiar with the discussion.
“Everyone knows it’s better for DeSantis if Trump loses. DeSantis knows it. Trump knows it. So there’s no point in Ron talking about it,” the source said.
Just for the record, though the article was written in March, its topic of discussion was the “Thank You” retreat DeSantis had scheduled for his donors and which took place last week. The article puts last week’s event into greater context which makes it timely, IMO.
Exactly my point
And by the way, no other governor does those ridiculous self promoting press conferences every single day. He is shadow campaigning and desperate to remain relevant, but is really overdoing it.
“ MAGA won’t vote for him.
No matter who he runs against.
Ever.”
*******************************************
Yes, because everything he does has been designed to weaken Florida (and, by extension, America). He’s been constantly removing roadblocks that have slowed the progressives’ agenda thus allowing said agenda to advance. His governorship has been accompanied by strengthening of DemocRATS IN Florida along with weakening and diminishing of the Florida Republican Party.
If you don’t believe everything in the preceding paragraph you’re likely suffering cognitive dissonance with your Ron DeSantis Derangement Syndrome.
Just sayin’.
“Ron DeSantis Derangement Syndrome”
Sorry friend, I think you are mistaken.
Florida Man has revealed himself to be not Ready for Primetime. He’s taken money, advice , and hired staff from from every NeverTrump AntiPopulist entity in existence.
An Excellent Governor for the people of Florida? I don’t know, I don’t live there so I can’t say.
But we don’t ever want another JEB!, and I see shades of McRomBushes all over him.
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.