Posted on 04/10/2024 3:39:18 PM PDT by conservative98
RON DESANTIS IS BACK TO RUNNING Florida’s government. But he hasn’t really stopped running for president.
Next month, DeSantis hosts a two-day presidential-donor gathering at the Hard Rock Hotel in South Florida that’s billed as—don’t call it a “fundraiser”—an “Investor Appreciation Retreat.” It’s the latest phase of an image makeover DeSantis started after he officially dropped out of the 2024 race on January 21 and endorsed Donald Trump.
For the past month, DeSantis has hosted one-on-one thank-you calls with donors, small meetings with more of these “investors” in Naples and in Miami, and conference calls with former volunteers.
In a rarity for DeSantis, he’s expressing some regrets, notably about the way his star-crossed campaign and super PAC stiff-armed the national media.
“I should’ve done as much media as I could because the election was directly a reflection of how much earned media each candidate got,” DeSantis told one group, according to a participant who heard the remarks and relayed them on condition of anonymity. (Another source confirmed the substance of the remarks.)
Coming from a politician who isn’t known for introspection or personal accountability, this admission of error was the clearest sign yet that DeSantis is already laying the groundwork for 2028.
[CUT]
DeSantis also seems to think that he might have had a chance if only Trump hadn’t been indicted. “After the indictments, Trump dominated the news cycle,” DeSantis has said to others. “We couldn’t get any oxygen.”
DeSantis also begrudgingly told them he entered the presidential race too late. He waited until late May 2023 even though Trump announced a week after the November 2022 elections and Haley joined the race in February 2023.
Those who understand DeSantis’s style of thinking say they wouldn’t be surprised if DeSantis learns this particular lesson so well that he announces his next presidential campaign before his term as governor ends in January 2027.
[CUT]
A MONTH AFTER DROPPING OUT, DeSantis began his thank you tour and promptly ran afoul of Trump due to a leaked recording of a 30-minute teleconference with Republican supporters who had backed his presidential campaign. Trump’s team took special umbrage with the way DeSantis gratuitously side-swiped Trump co-campaign manager Susie Wiles, a former DeSantis adviser he came to resent and purged in 2019.
“We were often asked if we would ever stop hitting Ron,” tweeted Taylor Budowich, executive director of the pro-Trump MAGA Inc. super PAC, last month. “The standard response became: it stops when he’s fat again. Now that the time has come, I think we’ll reconsider.”
A week later, at a private “investor” meeting in Naples, DeSantis was more circumspect in discussing Trump, according to an insider familiar with the discussion.
“Everyone knows it’s better for DeSantis if Trump loses. DeSantis knows it. Trump knows it. So there’s no point in Ron talking about it,” the source said.
Why does Ron do cingrey press conferences every single day? Because he’s still running.
https://www.thebulwark.com/p/ron-desantis-2028-shadow-presidential-campaign
Tokyo Rove has assured Rhonda Santis that the Bush Crime Family, Inc. will dispose of Trump before November, one way or another.
MAGA won’t vote for him.
No matter who he runs against.
Ever.
I can't put myself in the shoes of alleged conservatives who criticize the Gov for doing a fine, and energetic job.
Trump has the nom sewn up, right? What on earth are you afraid of?
He was on the ballot during the Texas primary. Anyone could have voted for him, despite saying he suspended his campaign.
Nothing wrong with running in 2028. Of course, trump may want to run again. In that case, DeSantis can run in 2032…..unless trump again wants to run.
I have no with him running in 28. He’s been a good conservative governor. He should have never run in 24
Most will be dead due to being elderly. Sadly everyday we lose more and more.
You speak for all conservatives everywhere. What predictive powers you must have!
Trump has the nom sewn up, right? What on earth are you afraid of?
EXACTLY. There does seem to be a lot of paranoia and handwringing, made worse has Trump keeps realigning as a moderate. Folks need to get over DeSantis 2024, that's history. It is now, better or worse, Trump 2024.
Or are Trump folks feeling insecure and second-guessing? Maybe just trying to keep each other in line.
“Everyone knows it’s better for DeSantis if Trump loses. DeSantis knows it. Trump knows it. So there’s no point in Ron talking about it,” the source said.
Says it all.
Flame away but I am looking forward to 2028. A presidential election without Biden or Trump will be refreshing.
DeSantis won’t be governor in a couple years. So he won’t have a platform to run in 2028. Also, he needs to be punished for combating election fraud. He has no place in the GOP anymore.
You don’t think Trump has a chance to win?
If Trump loses, DeSantis has no chance. The reality is though he’s not governor after 2 years so he doesn’t have any chance. Plus his beliefs don’t fit in with the GOP. Now. He is against election. Fraud, is too pro-life, he’s just too conservative to survive in the new GOP.
MAGA won’t vote in 2028.
He is 350/1 best of luck with it.
I think a lot of freepers will be happy to hear their guy is still in the running somehow. That kind of thinking could end up with Joke at the helm for another 4 yrs and the entire country would suffer.
He spent a yr in Iowa. How did Floridians benefit from his absence as governor? 🤣
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