KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — For Sat PMs
—
Former President Donald Trump is gaining more support in Florida as he aims to undermine the presidential aspirations of Gov. Ron DeSantis in their shared home state.
In recent days, Trump has received endorsements from U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and state lawmaker Randy Fine, a longtime ally of DeSantis who has provided counsel on Israel. He had already garnered the backing of the majority of the state’s Republican lawmakers. Furthermore, more Florida Republicans may soon follow suit.
Despite DeSantis’ reputation as a powerful governor who has implemented conservative policies and shifted a traditionally swing state towards the right, he is trailing significantly behind in the 2024 race. Trump’s campaign is not only focused on winning the nomination, but also on humiliating DeSantis in his home state and on the national stage.
“Weakening DeSantis’ standing in Florida is a clear objective of the Trump campaign,” stated Alex Conant, a Republican strategist who previously worked on Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s 2016 presidential campaign. “DeSantis’ entire message is based on the notion that he is an exceptional governor. When Republican officials in Florida choose Trump over DeSantis, it greatly undermines DeSantis’ pitch.”
Both Trump and DeSantis will be among the GOP contenders speaking at the Florida Freedom Summit on Saturday, which is hosted by the state GOP at a convention center near Orlando. Scott, Fine, and four U.S. House members who have already announced their support for Trump are also scheduled to speak.
Four days later, DeSantis will join several candidates for the third Republican debate in Miami. Trump, once again, will skip the debate to host his own event in the nearby suburb of Hialeah, complete with a “spin room” to compete with the traditional post-debate gathering where journalists conduct interviews.
Initially expected to pose the greatest challenge to Trump after winning re-election by a large margin in November, DeSantis has struggled since launching his campaign in May. He currently lags far behind in the race. According to a Des Moines Register poll published on Monday, he is tied with Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and ex-United Nations ambassador under Trump, both capturing 16% support, 27 percentage points behind the former president.
Trump has criticized DeSantis for betraying him by running against him, and his campaign has been ridiculing DeSantis’ laughter and interactions with voters for weeks. DeSantis has responded by pointing out Trump’s blunders and implying that the former president no longer possesses the same level of energy as before.
Their recent exchange has become increasingly crude. Trump’s allies have circulated headlines suggesting that DeSantis wears lifts in his boots. In response, DeSantis told Newsmax that if “Donald Trump can summon the courage to show up to the debate, I’ll wear a boot on my head.”
In an effort to counter, DeSantis’ super PAC has started selling a set of golf balls inscribed with the message, “Ron DeSantis has a pair.” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung retaliated by saying, “Ron DeSantis is so financially strapped that he needs to sell his balls to strangers in order to make rent and keep the lights on.”
The campaign’s references to male anatomy evoke memories of another failed attempt by a Floridian to challenge Trump. In 2016, Rubio made a joke about Trump’s “small hands” in response to the former president’s personal attacks. Rubio later withdrew from the race after losing Florida’s primary.
In September, Trump received a symbolic victory as state party members voted against requiring Florida primary candidates to pledge support for the eventual nominee in order to run next March. Trump has refused to make a similar pledge, which is necessary for candidates to participate in national GOP debates.
Joe Gruters, the former chairman of the state party and one of the few Republican Florida lawmakers who supported Trump, predicts that more endorsements from Florida officials will come. However, he emphasizes the risks faced by those who decide to go against DeSantis, considering he will remain governor for the next three years.
“It takes real courage for any member to switch sides at this point or to publicly announce their support,” he said, as state lawmakers “have to go back and serve their communities.” Gruters accuses DeSantis of being “vindictive” towards those who have chosen to back Trump.
Therefore, he notes, “Many people are still afraid to come forward.”
__
Barrow reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writer Jill Colvin contributed from New York.
