A.G. Gancarski
Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed volunteer delegates in a closed press phone call, and he told them that 2028 is still wide open for him.
“Oh, I haven’t ruled anything out. I mean, I think that, you know, we’re still in this election cycle so it’s presumptuous to say, you know, this or that. I think a lot happens in politics,” DeSantis said.
“I heard from a lot of people on the ground in these early states that, you know, they thought I was so wonderful, such a great president, but they wanted to give Donald Trump one more shot and they would just support me in ’28.”
The Governor said the Primary battle ended up being an “incumbent race.”
“Without Trump, I think we would have run away with it,” DeSantis said, saying the polls showed “Trump and me and then everybody else is distant behind in terms of that.”
DeSantis also said he had no interest in being Trump’s Vice President.
The Governor has said this before, but given Trump floated his name as a potential running mate on Fox News Tuesday, the new comments have more salience.
DeSantis also warned against Trump making a diversity pick for VP, saying he’d “heard that they’re looking more in identity politics.”
“I think that’s a mistake. I think you should just focus on who the best person for the job would be and then do that accordingly.”
DeSantis also trashed Trump’s political team, alluding to people like Susie Wiles as people he had “fired” and found refuge in Trump World only to condemn him, saying their “nonsense” didn’t resonate with voters and that reports of Trump animosity to DeSantis may be exaggerated.
“I’d be careful on some of these media reports. I think he’s got people in his inner circle who were a part of our orbit years ago that we fired. And I think some of that is they just have an ax to grind. But ultimately it doesn’t matter what some political operative thinks,” he said.
He also said having “no path to win” led to his withdrawal from the race.
“After Iowa, you know, I was still campaigning because I didn’t want to make any rash decisions. But, you know, you just have to look at where a lot of conservative voters are. And if I thought that I had a path to win that I would have kept fighting. But I didn’t think that asking people to continue to dedicating their time and money, you know, if I didn’t see that pathway just given how things had started to shake out,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis discussed recent trips to Indiana and South Carolina to pursue term limits, suggesting further travels may happen to promote school choice, and noting that though he’s Governor he has a less “significant bully pulpit” but is still willing to use it on red meat issues.
DeSantis said he and the family were “great” after the withdrawal, saying that his family was “clear eyed” about the campaign and the “pivot” after suspending the campaign, and calling himself “the most active Governor in the country.”
He sounded like he missed the hurly burly of the campaign trail, saying that it’s a “different beast” now that he’s “off that treadmill.”
“I travel around the state and of course I was in other states yesterday and so we do a lot,” DeSantis said. “I mean, you’re busy but compare that to a presidential campaign where from sunup to sundown, you’re doing interviews, you’re going to events, you’re on a bus, you’re preparing for debates or this or that. It is night and day.”
Asked how they can support DeSantis in his future endeavors, the Governor promised to send out “updates about what we’re involved in” and teased “ways where we can be a little more vocal on some stuff nationally.”
“We’re toying with some different ideas,” DeSantis said, before suggesting there are ways he can “work together across different states” that have Republican Legislatures.
33 comments
MH/Duuuval
February 21, 2024 at 7:55 pm
Dee can run for office until kingdom come and he won’t get either my vote or a cent of my money.
He enjoys being the Decider — like that major screwup W.
Mayorkas Impeached
February 21, 2024 at 9:04 pm
Launch the Howler Monkeys. Just post a picture, nothing more and watch them scream. So predictable.
Dont Say FLA
February 22, 2024 at 7:16 am
Now hang on there MI. You said people hit Rhonda, you hit back. You basically claimed you are Rhonda’s Retribution. But all you do is copy+paste the same thing claiming the predictability of critical responses which you describe as coming from howler monkeys. That’s not how to hit back. That’s how to get ignored. Folks just gloss right over your repetitive, irrelevant input.
MI, you got to at least be funny or original. Check Earl for how to support Ron DeSantis while being entertaining enough where folks might read you at least sometimes. Ideally you can be funny and original and provide thoughtful input.
Now I will agree, Rhonda’s face is eminently punchable, and whenever i see it I do feel an urge to punch it, but there’s not much sense in dwelling on his face. We all know he look and sound just like Kermit the Frog and we moved on.
PeterH
February 21, 2024 at 8:51 pm
After the damage he’s done to Florida…… he’ll never win a National election.
Mayorkas Impeached
February 21, 2024 at 9:02 pm
Damage to Florida? Really? People are flocking to this state, same with companies leaving “Blue States”. Move to one of those “Blue States” that people are fleeing and tell us how good it is. I’ll be waiting to hear your response.
MH/Duuuval
February 21, 2024 at 9:41 pm
I guess we’ve heard all we’re going to hear from you — in your various online guises — about the “Biden crime family.”
Turns out, as even you should know by now, that the chief informant is linked with the Russian spy network.
“Bye-bye” — as Susie Wiles wrote to Dee on X after Dee proved to be a quitter.
Mayorkas Impeached
February 22, 2024 at 5:24 am
Not a word about the Biden crime family. I’m asking Peter H about the damage our fine Governor has done to Florida. Oh there is plenty to say about Biden.
Dont Say FLA
February 22, 2024 at 7:25 am
Glad to hear you can accept bends in the news, MI. 😀
The “Biden Crime Family” was an invention of an informant now charged with perjury for his made up stories including the one about the five million dollars to Biden.
MI seems to have accepted the Biden impeachment is a lost cause, but the US House GOP is still going after it when “it” has been charged as perjury and the indicted perjurer was pulled off a plane after boarding an international flight trying to GTFO the USA rather than go to prison.
MH/Duuuval
February 22, 2024 at 9:44 am
Right — and there was plenty to say in the 15th century about how the sun circle the planet Earth.
Dont Say FLA
February 22, 2024 at 7:20 am
More people move from Florida to California than move from California to Florida. Blue states are pricey because they’re where smart people live and work. Smart young folk move to them to become successful and live a positive, forward looking life. And then 40+ years later their parents die, they retire, they move back home where it’s cheap and they can sock away all their real estate profits and live 3x as long off their relative-wage inflated 401k’s they got working in blue states. Being socioeconomically disadvantaged enough that retirees pick you, that’s not a good argument for place with anybody but retirees. Got anything else?
PeterH
February 22, 2024 at 12:53 pm
Calm down Christina Pushaw, Putin will soon give you guidance on how to destroy America!
Jimmy G
February 22, 2024 at 3:14 pm
Have lived in Florida 60 years. DeSantis is worse than Rick (taking the 5th) Scott. Question: where’s our state plane? Answer:
Flying pudding fingers around the country at our expense to conduct a shadow campaign. He’s corrupt to the core and really unlikeable.
MH/Duuuval
February 23, 2024 at 2:50 pm
It’s a tossup between Dee and Rick as to who is the more obnoxious.
Dont Say FLA
February 22, 2024 at 7:22 am
DeSantis will never win as much as one county in one state in a national election. Truth. Proven. Demonstrated in Iowa. Rhonda then backed right down before winning zero of anything in NH or SC
Jay Smif
February 22, 2024 at 10:32 am
Also, what morons will be dumb enough to give he and his grifting white trash family $160 MILLION to blow on private jet travel and $8000 custom leather jackets again?
Ron Forrest Ron
February 24, 2024 at 6:40 pm
Trump’s gonna croak soon. His dummies will then need a replacement. It’s either they find a replacement for Trump telling them what to think, or they learn to think on their own. They’ll definitely find a replacement. That said, I don’t think Rhonda’s their guy. I can’t see that happening. Ever.
Michael K
February 21, 2024 at 10:14 pm
Rhonda doesn’t stand a chance. Those culture wars just made him and the state look stupid, petty, and hateful. Even $150 million could not make him remotely likeable. He talks like a valley girl and his anti-woke nonsense is dead. All he has is grievance, no vision. He’s going nowhere. We’re stuck with him. FOX “news” won’t even take him. But he’s keeping the comedians busy trying to stay “relevant” and staying more stupid stuff. He’s a mere punchline.
Devisou
February 22, 2024 at 6:25 am
Desantis I am SO happy you are going to govern Florida longer. You have been the light this entire nation needed! Grateful to have lived under your leadership.
You rock! Presidency is a cesspool of evil. You don’t need it. You can make a bigger difference from this angle. God continually bless you and your family!
Dont Say FLA
February 22, 2024 at 7:28 am
I am not not even sure how an internet comment can invoke the face of somebody in a hostage video claiming to be perfectly fine, but Devisou nailed it. Excellent writing, Devisou! (Unless you were serious, obviously)
Lex
February 22, 2024 at 8:09 am
First off, if anything happened to Trump between now and the election, Desantis could easily restart his campaign and Trump delegates would almost certainly support Desantis. Second, right now there is no one else in the Republican party more likely to be running for president in 2028 than Ron Desantis. A ton can change in politics, but runners-up in Republican primaries have an excellent track record in the next open primary.
Michael K
February 22, 2024 at 11:54 am
Rhonda could certainly restart their campaign. But the result would be the same. The donors have major regrets. And the people? Nobody likes Rhonda. Nobody.
BTW: Did you hear that Ambassador Haley is staying in for the long haul? She’s already way ahead of “Always Back Down” Tiny Dee. And, she’s standing up to Trump, which the little man in high heels never dared to do.
wake up yall
February 22, 2024 at 8:10 am
I just want to vomit when I read what Rona DeSatan has reportedly said. He is just lusting for power and fancies himself as President of the United States. He is a political hack, totally amoral. Power is his God. He is totally consumed with his perverse lust for power. He disgusts me. I wish he would just shut up and go far away from our State. Loser got married at Disney World, obviously a big Dumbo. Who does that? And laughing while watching torture at Gitmo, seriously? But he is cute in his sexy white rubber boots!
MH/Duuuval
February 22, 2024 at 9:39 am
Get over the workingman’s fishing and oystering boots. The next step up for Dee is the golden MAGA high tops. They’ll be marked down in a few months — ain’t nobody don’t like a bargain. (No guarantee the shoes won’t melt in the rain.)
MH/Duuuval
February 22, 2024 at 10:02 am
No one wants to face up to Dee’s collusion with the waterboarding crowd. His hand are clean, like Pilate’s.
Ron Forrest Ron
February 22, 2024 at 9:08 am
Ron DeSantis hasn’t ruled 2028 out, but 2028 has definitely ruled Ron DeSantis out. They will be lucky to be Floribama Community College President after that bad of a failed campaign and then three years of lame duck status with everybody waiting with bated breath for him and his ridiculous raging to go away.
Recall Rhonda
February 22, 2024 at 9:18 am
Rhonda was supposed to resign to run but got themself a special exemption. The exempted campaign was suspended, so their exemption was also suspended. Now Rhonda’s gone to SC to campaign some more. Rhonda needs to resign. Rhonda won’t resign, of course. That’s why Florida needs to have the recall vote like Democrat run states have but G0P run states don’t because the G0P doesn’t want voters voting on anything where the outcome might have any real effect.
Mayorkas Impeached
February 22, 2024 at 2:50 pm
Why don’t you run a recall petition? Put your money where your mouth is. That would be an easy wager to make as the fine citizens of this state will not recall their excellent governor. I dare ya.
JD
February 22, 2024 at 3:48 pm
Considering there isn’t a mechanism for a recall, much less a citizen’s recall, your dare is a bluff.
It’s good to see you put your money where your mouth is as well. Kind of like being a warrior behind an anonymous keyboard.
Just admit it. You’re just as much of a “howler monkey” as the rest of us. The only difference is you’re a FANBUI too.
VD
February 24, 2024 at 5:08 pm
You hide behind your initials, yet you question my stage names. Absolutely hilarious.
Recall Rhonda
February 22, 2024 at 5:15 pm
Recall votes can create desired outcomes for voters. Therefore G0P run states don’t allow for recall votes.
MH/Duuuval
February 23, 2024 at 2:51 pm
That’s a fact.
Elmo
February 22, 2024 at 9:28 am
His donors aborted, realizing it was a bad pregnancy.
MH/Duuuval
February 22, 2024 at 9:42 am
If this is the case, this must be an example of the live birth/death the MAGAs love to brandish. Seriously, $150 million wasted on sound and fury but little else — unless you’re a con artist milking candidates.
Comments are closed.