A.G. Gancarski
Florida’s Governor ended his presidential run this year after one nominating contest, in which he finished a distant second in the Iowa caucuses. But he’s still envisioning himself as a presidential candidate, even with the choice of 39-year-old JD Vance to be Donald Trump’s running mate.
On Wednesday, the Governor will speak to the state’s Republicans that arguably know him best. He will address Iowa Republicans at a lunch event to be held at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
DeSantis, who memorably did the “Full Grassley” tour of all 99 counties in the Hawkeye State, has wooed GOP voters in the state since even before he became an official candidate. One of his first book tour stops promoting the best-selling “The Courage to Be Free” was in the Hawkeye State in February 2023.
Meanwhile, August promises more political travel for DeSantis, who has yet to offer public comment on Trump’s running mate since his selection Monday. He will go to Washington, where Republicans seek to raise $1 million for Trump.
Indeed, in recent weeks, DeSantis has been fundraising for the former President, and hopes are that he can help Trump’s operation get a $10 million boost.
“I think it’s been reported we’ve been active in raising money. I think it’s important and we’re going to continue to do that,” DeSantis said at an official press conference last month.
During the 2022 cycle, DeSantis went to Ohio to help JD Vance get elected to the Senate, but the Hillbilly Elegy author endorsed Trump in January 2023, even before the Governor got into the presidential race. (He was waiting until the Legislative Session ended to make it official.)
The DeSantis rally with Vance was staged by the conservative group Turning Point USA. The Governor was greeted with a standing ovation at the Ohio event, where he stressed his familial ties to Youngstown before offering his wisdom.
DeSantis’ comments about his future intentions have been all over the place, meanwhile, but he clearly is not closing the door on higher office.
“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 in February, addressing the 2028 question during a call with people who pledged to be his delegates at the GOP Convention.
“We’ll see what the future holds,” DeSantis said to a radio host in Iowa back in January, suggesting that he was indeed striving to keep the band together.
“Most of the people that supported me, whether activists, whether volunteers, whether fundraisers, you know, they’re all on board, you know, for what the future holds. So we’ll be active,” DeSantis promised.
More recently, the Governor told Fox News Channel viewers that he didn’t “have any plans for the future” when asked about a future run by Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures.
But indications are that he’s still envisioning political life outside of Tallahassee, nonetheless.
17 comments
Not Woke
July 16, 2024 at 11:39 am
So much young talent in the Republican Party. The future is Bright Red.
KathrynA
July 16, 2024 at 11:39 am
Trump, JD Vance and DeSantis make me shudder at what will happen to seniors, women, our freedoms and economy ( and our climate)!!
FLPatriot
July 16, 2024 at 11:48 am
Just like last time, If Trump wins, A Democrat will win in 2028 to fix the disaster.
Not Woke
July 16, 2024 at 11:56 am
Disaster huh? Well I was paying $2 for a gallon of gas. Inflation was in check. There were no invasions on Ukraine and Israel. The Iranian’s weren’t lobbing missiles and drones in Israel. The streets of n big cities were safer. Many of us miss that disaster.
Bill
July 16, 2024 at 12:17 pm
30 years ago gas was 65 cents a gallon. So what? We were at war with Iraq and life in big cities was great. At least Earl has the decency not to change names so we can scroll right by without having to read his nonsense.
Not Woke
July 16, 2024 at 12:30 pm
Stay on topic Bill. The comparison was Trump and Biden not what happened 30+ years ago.
Not Woke
July 16, 2024 at 11:54 am
Do you drive a car? Do you fly on airliners and take cruises? Do you run your home appliances? If you answered yes than you to are part of the so called climate change problem. Now start riding a bike.
Ocean Joe
July 16, 2024 at 12:13 pm
OK, so why do you have a cow everytime somebody tries to make these items more fuel efficient, or use less water or energy? Why is it always all or nothing?
Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels is not without cost, I’d say we’ll have to lower our standard of living to do it. But kicking the can down the road to an unlivable world for our grandchildren seems to be the preferred path. Of all the flaws Joe Biden has, including staying in the race, he does seem to understand what’s coming.
FLPatriot
July 16, 2024 at 11:47 am
We won’t see DeSantis on the ballot unless he is VP.
Michael K
July 16, 2024 at 11:59 am
The MAGA heir apparent has been anointed, and it’s not Ron. His spectacular $160 million failure in Iowa, and his tone deaf arrogance and lack of charisma are a real turnoff. Too much grievance and anger – with a vindictive chip on his shoulder.
He played the culture war nonsense way too far for all but the most radical right wing extremists. He can certainly try again, but I think he’s finished, like Scott Walker, on the national stage.
Not Woke
July 16, 2024 at 12:16 pm
Someone has not only TDS but DDS. 🤣
My Take
July 16, 2024 at 11:59 am
Bumfight!
Dueling dregs!
Ocean Joe
July 16, 2024 at 12:07 pm
By picking Vance, Trump hopped over the entire GOP apparatus, all those folks waiting for their turn. If elected, Vance will be Baby Maga Jesus and nobody else, including Desantis, will have a shot.
Not Woke
July 16, 2024 at 12:11 pm
So tell us who are the up and comers in the Demo Party. Squad Members? Newsom? Whitmer? Slim pickings there. Really Whitmer is probably the best of a marginal group.
MH/Duuuval
July 16, 2024 at 12:21 pm
It’s convenient to have an omniscient MAGA mouth posting on this site regularly. No need to watch MAGA TV or listen to MAGA radio or read MAGA tripe online.
My Take
July 16, 2024 at 1:01 pm
DeSlantis should use the interim for some speech lessons.
Not Woke
July 16, 2024 at 1:14 pm
More DDS. Let’s take away Biden’s cheat sheets, teleprompter, and cue cards and let’s see how he does. Oh yes we saw that performance nearly two weeks ago.