Associated Press
Ron DeSantis boasted Friday about his lengthy list of endorsements and support in Utah, telling a group of backers in the deeply religious state that he was driven by faith in God more than political ideology.
As he works to reset a campaign confronting financial pressures and a static position in the Republican primary field, the Florida governor called the race a “state by state” contest and tried to endear himself to political leaders by likening Utah’s growing economy and their conservative governing strategies to his own.
Speaking in front of a group of 17 state lawmakers in the Western state’s capital, DeSantis defended his campaign’s strategy and support in early states including Iowa and New Hampshire while pledging to focus on Super Tuesday contests like Utah’s.
“My fighting faith is faith in God,” DeSantis said. “Politics has a role, but I don’t think it should be the number one divide in our country.”
His remarks in Utah came as Vice President Kamala Harris gave a speech across the country in Jacksonville, admonishing a DeSantis-backed Black history curriculum approved by the Florida Board of Education this week. He doubled down on earlier arguments that the new curriculum was needed to prevent liberal indoctrination and accused Harris of attempting “to demagogue” and politicize history.
He said he wasn’t involved in devising the Florida Board of Education’s standards but defended components instructing that enslaved people were taught skills that benefited them.
“They’re probably going to show is some of the folks that eventually parlayed being a blacksmith into doing things later in life. But the reality is: All of that is rooted in whatever is factual,” he said.
DeSantis’ Friday appearance marked the second time he has trekked to Utah recently, coming two months after he spoke at the state Republican Party convention.
“The more people see Governor DeSantis and hear his forward-thinking plan for our nation’s comeback, the more inspired they become to vote for him for president,” campaign spokesperson Andrew Romeo said in a statement.
11 comments
M. Mouse
July 22, 2023 at 4:22 pm
And I have faith in our little man to get smaller and smaller the more he tries to be something big.
Squeak!
My Take
July 22, 2023 at 8:50 pm
0.5His prayers go unheard.
For even the Heavenly Hosts hate Rhonda.
PeterH
July 22, 2023 at 9:11 pm
The Catholic Church does not endorse the behavior of DeSantis or his staff. This is simply another DeSantis lie.
Lisa G is
July 23, 2023 at 1:16 am
I live in Florida, in fact I’m a native Floridian. Never in all my years have I ever seen a governor, a wannabe president at that, bring the such division to our state. Practically everything he stands for is edging him closer to being called a bigot who is only trying to emulate that other big loser Trump!
Tom
July 23, 2023 at 12:35 pm
The real pity is that we have to take him back when he crashes and burns. I’d be happier to see him slink off somewhere and leave us out of his fantasies.
My Take
July 23, 2023 at 6:46 pm
Yeah, it’s not like Biden or Trump would appoint him to anything.
Dont Say FLA
July 24, 2023 at 3:53 pm
It’s a pity for Floridians, but I seriously cannot wait for the fools that exempted Rhonda from Resign to Run to incur Raging Rhonda’s Wrath for two more years. Once Rhonda’s burned through Florida’s entire GOP with finger pointing, then he’ll realize what we all knew the whole time: It’s Casey. She’s the problem It’s her.
j/k but that’s as far as Rhonda’s capacity to blame will allow him to get.
Rhonda’s the problem, obviously and of course, but they’ll blame Casey. Will she stick around that long? Long enough to take the blame Rhonda has in store for her after all other efforts at laying blame have failed? NOPE
Sonja Fitch
July 23, 2023 at 6:17 am
Omg boy stfu. You water boarded prisoners in in Cuba. You are such a fake . Whatcha got written on your hands? Reminders of your lies. Get out DESANTIS!
Dont Say FLA
July 23, 2023 at 2:31 pm
MMMM, HUH?
““My fighting faith is faith in God,” DeSantis said. “Politics has a role, but I don’t think it should be the number one divide in our country.””
Are we to infer Rhonda feels like religion should be the number one divide in our country?
That’s what I’m getting, but Rhonda’s messaging is so often confused and self-contradictory, I might be reading this wrong.
My Take
July 24, 2023 at 12:31 am
Pro-slavery Ron could have been a good Southern Baptist, ca. 1855.
Michael K
July 24, 2023 at 11:51 am
I believe in the separation of church and state. Ron’s wife thinks he’s the “chosen one sent by God” which I find appalling – especially since his words and actions are neither charitable or compassionate, let alone even remotely “Christian.”
Your personal religious beliefs have no place in public policy – especially when you twist a contorted interpretation of ancient stories to support your selfish racism, homophobia and xenophobia.
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