Free Republic

Put a fork in the opposition denials to what was increasingly obvious; it’s over. Last summer we saw the fingerprints of the professional republican apparatus all over the construct that was creating the Ron DeSantis 2024 effort. The data was all going in one direction, all of the constructs were identical to the Karl Rove playbook with the single addition of the Republican Governor’s Association as a participant. As the months moved forward the Rovian elements became more and more clear. The DeSantis supporters tried to deny it, but the truth of the issue is just too obvious. Now, insider...

Could his 2024 presidential campaign be over before it even starts? At this stage in the 2024 GOP presidential primary cycle, the fact that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) hasn't officially declared his candidacy for his party's nomination feels more like an administrative afterthought than a sign of genuine electoral reluctance. With his reputation bolstered by a rare good showing during an otherwise disappointing GOP midterm election, DeSantis has spent the early part of 2023 crisscrossing the country with conspicuous stops in presidential primary hubs like Iowa and New Hampshire, hawking his "make America Florida" memoir, and weighing in on...