Free Republic

For DeSantis, policy positions have not really been an issue. The big obstacle is convincing a loyal base to ditch Trump. He's been hit by the MAGA movement because they believe he should have waited his turn and not run against Trump. DeSantis told CBN News, "Everyone has a right to be able to run. Obviously, Trump could win the primary. I'm not convinced he can win the general (election). I can." "I would say if I could have one thing change, I wish Trump hadn't been indicted on any of this stuff. I think, someone like a Bragg would...

If Donald Trump and Nikki Haley are going to continue to spend millions against me on television with false attacks, they should at least have the courage to meet on the debate stage. Now that Nikki Haley has been shamed into coming to the CNN debate, it's time for Donald Trump to follow suit and join us.

Ron DeSantis asked Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday to arrange a head-to-head debate that would allow the Florida governor to take on former President Trump. “Well, Sean, I don’t think we’ve spoken since that debate, and the reaction that I’ve gotten has been incredible in terms of obviously being able to show that freedom works, and the California model’s a failure, what that means for the country,” DeSantis said. DeSantis praised Hannity’s moderating skills and suggested he hold additional debates with either of his top competitors in the presidential primary

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis slighted former President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court picks Monday, saying they came up short of what DeSantis called the “gold standard” set by two of the court’s other conservative justices. When asked by radio host Hugh Hewitt if he would “pledge to the Republicans as you go around the country that your judges will be like the Trump judges,” the 44-year-old DeSantis responded: “Well, actually, I would say we’ll do better than that. “I respect the three appointees he did, but none of those three are at the same level of Justice [Clarence] Thomas and Justice...

Florida’s Governor is unfazed by surveys showing him trailing Donald Trump in early 2024 GOP Primary states. Ron DeSantis told Brian Kilmeade he’s only just begun his campaign and that his campaign is in “really good shape” despite being down by double digits in pivotal early states. “I just started running. I mean, a lot of people didn’t know I was going to run or weren’t sure. So I think we’re actually in really good shape in the long run,” DeSantis said. “We’ve got a great plan and I think we’re going to be very strong in Iowa, New Hampshire,...

A reporter and 2024 presidential hopeful Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) shared a tense exchange during the Florida governor’s first campaign event in New Hampshire on Thursday after the reporter asked him why he did not take questions from voters during the event. “Why not take any questions from voters, though?” the reporter, identified as the Associated Press’s Steve Peoples, asked as DeSantis mingled with the crowd, posing for pictures with the event’s attendees. “Governor, how come you’re not taking questions from voters?” the reporter asked again, prompting a response from DeSantis, who explained that he was now very clearly talking...