A.G. Gancarski
Gov. Ron DeSantis is taking the high road amid “incoming fire” from former President Donald Trump while suggesting that Florida offers a “blueprint” for how Republicans can win in the modern era.
“Florida, I think, really shows the blueprint of what you can do to not only win but really to fundamentally change the overall political terrain in a very strong, pro-freedom direction,” DeSantis told reporters and supporters Tuesday in Fort Walton Beach.
The Governor sidestepped questions about recent attacks from the man whose endorsement was key to his political ascent in 2018. He did not insult Trump, continuing the contrast between his muted response and the former President’s antics ahead of an expected campaign launch Tuesday evening.
“One of the things I’ve learned in this job is that when you’re leading, you’re getting things done; you take incoming fire. That’s just the nature of it,” DeSantis said, describing being “attacked by corporate media” at some length without mentioning the Trump put-downs of late.
“All that’s just noise,” DeSantis said, before eventually pivoting to a discussion of election results from last week.
“At the end of the day, I would tell people to check out the scoreboard from last Tuesday night. The fact of the matter is it was the greatest Republican victory in the state of Florida,” DeSantis said, noting legislative supermajorities, school board wins, and congressional flips as part of the “sweep.”
“At the end of the day,” DeSantis added, “I think people respond to the leadership. They respond to the results.”
DeSantis took a question from a supporter in the crowd about the tension created between Trump and the Governor. DeSantis again offered moderating rhetoric, while also seemingly suggesting the time has come for a different course than Trump would take.
“I think some of this stuff gets overdone in some of the media,” DeSantis argued. “At the end of the day, you had an election nationwide. There were some success stories across the country. I think Georgia Governor, Ohio, I think Texas. But there were a lot, a lot of disappointments. That’s just the reality. It was a hugely underwhelming, disappointing performance.”
“The one place that people can look to as the blueprint is Florida,” DeSantis said, noting very close elections through 2018 in major statewide races.
“My race was less than a point in 2018,” DeSantis added, who did not address a recent unsubstantiated claim from Trump that he stopped DeSantis’ election from being stolen.
“If people see that you’re leading, and they see that you mean what you say and you say what you mean and that you’re willing and able to deliver results, we get people to vote for us who may not be in our party. That’s what you really need to do. You don’t win by a million and a half votes if you only get your own party.”
DeSantis recounted victories in usually blue counties and among women and Hispanic voters, before offering another contrast to his style that won Florida elections and the less electorally successful campaigns elsewhere.
“What Florida showed is that the good policies and the good leadership can reverberate just beyond your little silo of the people that agree with you on everything,” DeSantis said.
While other Governors succeeded with “similar programs,” DeSantis noted many candidates didn’t have a positive message to reach independent voters.
“I think some of the others around the country, you had situations where these independent voters aren’t voting for our candidates, even with (Joe) Biden and the failures we’re seeing. That’s a problem.”
DeSantis’ response at a Panhandle presser comes after Trump thumped him as simply an “average Republican Governor” in recent days. Meanwhile, polls are showing Trump losing to DeSantis in a series of hypothetical 2024 Primary contests.
15 comments
PeterH
November 15, 2022 at 1:05 pm
DeSantis’s Pro FREEDUMB cultural war direction will not sell in the greater USA!
A huge influx and expansion of Republican Party trailer parks in Florida has enabled DeSantis to ruin this State ….. but the DeSantis message will not expand the GQP in other States. Without Federal COVID subsidies used to fly immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard…..what else has DeSantis accomplished?
Americans halted the predicted “red tsunami” in the mid terms when young Americans and independent voters tanked Republican Bobby Jindal’s Party of Stupid. Trust me generation Z will be back to “WOKE” DeSantis in 2024!
The.Truth.Comes.Out.In.The.End
November 15, 2022 at 1:32 pm
I think Disantis misses a major point, one that both Biden AND Trump need to get through their thick skulls. People are tired of the same old names in politics, especially if they are in their 70s and 80s. Time to pass the baton. Biden won because we the people got sick and tired of a drama queen for President. I have been NPA since I registered to vote back in the early 80s. I’m not a fan of the Gov., but if Republicans field Trump I could not even consider voting for him. Disantis vs ?, I don’t know, but I will NOT vote for someone in their 70s or 80s. There are other candidates out there.
Angie Chavez
November 15, 2022 at 1:32 pm
I hope you run for president!!
Josh Green
November 15, 2022 at 2:04 pm
Me too! He’ll get smoked easily and the Dems will easily win the White House again in a landslide. It will be wonderful.
We just saw how strongly the rest of the country rejected the Right, and DeSantis is seen as Trump 2.0 by the rest of the country. A DeSantis nomination will easily be defeated.
Hell, as a registered Democrat, I might even contribute money to his campaign just to help make that happen. 😂
marylou
November 15, 2022 at 3:20 pm
Joking about grooming made Desantis unelectable on a national level. Voters of both party’s reject Desantis’ religious belief that he has the right to put women’s bodies and lives under government control. Cruelty to children and infringing on women’s bodily autonomy disqualify Desantis for the presidency. It’s over for Ron.
Josh Green
November 15, 2022 at 3:35 pm
100%
Ron DeSantis is considered a joke by the majority of non-Floridian Republicans.
Tom
November 16, 2022 at 5:11 pm
Josh, Mary hootch, truth, Angie, and peter h, you are clueless.
DeSantis will be elected POTUS, Biden is 80 Sunday and Trump is 76. DeSantis will 46 in 2 yrs.
His campaign will be the bes the call for a new generation of Americans. The contrast will be mighty between both, especially the 80 yr old.
Defeating Biden will be easy once Trump is defeated.
Tom
November 16, 2022 at 5:11 pm
Josh, Mary hootch, truth, Angie, and peter h, you are clueless.
DeSantis will be elected POTUS, Biden is 80 Sunday and Trump is 76. DeSantis will 46 in 2 yrs.
His campaign will be the bes the call for a new generation of Americans. The contrast will be mighty between both, especially the 80 yr old.
Defeating Biden will be easy once Trump is defeated.
Donald J Trump
November 15, 2022 at 2:10 pm
You people better not vote for Ron DeSanctimonious over me. All the sht I did for you people you better be greatful. You’ll dishonor the grave of Ashli Babbitt and her sacrifice if you don’t vote for me.
The.Truth.Comes.Out.In.The.End
November 15, 2022 at 5:09 pm
You have a grammatical error in your satire: All the sht I did TO you people…
Yrral
November 15, 2022 at 2:42 pm
Cuban do not have any influence outside Florida,since they think Republicans are liberate Cuba,Elian Gonzalez have a better chance of becoming mayor of Miami ,than Desantis becoming President Google Elian Gonzalez Rescue
Tom
November 15, 2022 at 7:59 pm
Nothing like the crock of manure, 40% Charlie chameleon used underwear sniffers, whining, cry eye bout Govs 60%.
You got your ass kicked. What a bunch of panty stripes!
America’s Gov is American Freedom, liberty, truth, justice, and opportunity for all.
When you get 60%, it’s a landslide neophytes.
DeSantis will run the new generation call to arms. At age 46 in two years, the contrast will be overwhelming with Trump and Biden. Trump st 76, Biden at 80.
DeSantis is the new wave! The 5% haters exist on FP. You morons are pathetic.
Enjoy Ronnie ramming you again.
Tom
November 15, 2022 at 7:59 pm
Nothing like the crock of manure, 40% Charlie chameleon used underwear sniffers, whining, cry eye bout Govs 60%.
You got your ass kicked. What a bunch of panty stripes!
America’s Gov is American Freedom, liberty, truth, justice, and opportunity for all.
When you get 60%, it’s a landslide neophytes.
DeSantis will run the new generation call to arms. At age 46 in two years, the contrast will be overwhelming with Trump and Biden. Trump st 76, Biden at 80.
DeSantis is the new wave! The 5% haters exist on FP. You morons are pathetic.
Enjoy Ronnie ramming you again.
Yrral
November 16, 2022 at 7:27 am
Ronald and Donald duck a bunch of political quack
peter garritano
November 22, 2022 at 10:53 am
Wow. I dont live in Florida but I looked to it and visited all during Covid to see what common sense was like. Do those who oppose Ron really want to be part of the brain dead anti science lemmings who watched their businesses go under their kids become dumber and their mental health issues and crime skyrocket due to isolation? Do you really want to be told you cant do anything or go anywhere unless you adhere to government demands of medication? You are all OK with giving women bodily autonomy but what about everyone else? Wake up dyed in the wool Democrat Floridians, forgot the party thing. Florida policy making saved your state the last two years. See California for details.
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