MIAMI — Former President Donald Trump‘s political shadow looms large over Florida, but Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is stepping out from under it as he seeks reelection this year and possibly the 2024 Republican presidential nomination later.
Trump and DeSantis aides publicly downplay reports of tensions between the two camps. But their actions contradict their words, with Trump this week announcing a joint rally in Miami next weekend with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) but not DeSantis. The Florida governor and potential Trump White House rival unveiled his own Nov. 6 event near Tampa on Friday.
The dueling rallies are the latest line to be drawn between the pair as Trump and DeSantis “position themselves relative to one another” before the 2024 presidential cycle and amid the former president’s legal and investigation problems, according to Spiro Kiousis, the executive associate dean at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications.
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“They have both been sort of mutually keeping an eye on each other, but no one’s really made any sort of move yet,” Kiousis told the Washington Examiner.
Election prognosticators, such as FiveThirtyEight, predict DeSantis will defeat Democrat Charlie Crist, a former governor and congressman, in less than two weeks by more than 10 percentage points, 55% to 43%. That is different from four years ago when DeSantis clinched his first term in office against then-Democratic nominee Andrew Gillum by less than a point, 49.6% to 49.2%, after a recount.
DeSantis’s 2018 primary victory was secured with Trump’s endorsement, according to University of South Florida emeritus government professor Darryl Paulson. But DeSantis is no longer a little-known congressman from Jacksonville and is now outperforming Trump in 2024 polls thanks to his management of the pandemic and his stance on a range of social issues.
The governor may face calls to modulate his own Trumpian tendencies to appeal to a national electorate, Paulson said.
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“Critics would argue that this would be counterproductive since that hard edge is what makes him popular with the Republican base,” he added.
Before a Rubio meet-and-greet in Key Largo, Monroe County, yacht broker Matt Key, 50, contended Trump and DeSantis cast shadows that are the same length given the governor is “as every bit” as well liked and “as big as Trump.” That night, DeSantis would be cheered by 20,000-plus people during a surprise appearance at Country Thunder in Kissimmee.
“The funny part, too, is the chink in his armor is really not a chink in his armor to a person like me because I appreciate the honesty,” Key said. “Some people look at that, like, ‘Oh, gosh, this guy’s harsh.’ Well, he’s not necessarily harsh. He’s just speaking what he feels.”
After Rubio addressed the cocktail-sipping crowd gathered at the casual tiki-themed restaurant and bar, Tim Kollars, 40, similarly dismissed the idea that DeSantis is in Trump’s shadow. The information technology consultant described Trump as “a boisterous, loud, 800-pound gorilla” who is required “to come in and start breaking things so everybody would then pay attention to what’s going on.” But for Kollars, the country could do without 80-year-old presidents.
“Trump is getting very old. Biden’s very old,” he said. President Joe Biden turns 80 next month. “We need term limits, and we need to stop electing 80-year-olds who — let’s face it, humans are humans. Once you get to 80, your brain starts to go. I don’t care who you are.”
DeSantis’s 2024 aspirations have been raised during his governor’s race, with Crist confronting him on his intentions during their raucous debate last Monday at Fort Pierce’s Sunrise Theater after pro-DeSantis pamphlets were mailed to residents in the early voting state of South Carolina.
“Why don’t you look in the eyes of the people of the state of Florida and say to them, if you’re reelected, you will serve a full, four-year term as governor?” Crist asked DeSantis. “Yes or no?”
After inquiring with the moderator whether Crist’s time had expired, DeSantis, who has focused his criticism on Biden instead of his opponent, was adamant the only “old worn-out donkey” he hopes to “put out to pasture” is Crist.
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The previous day, DeSantis had visited the Surfside synagogue, the Shul of Bal Harbour, and spoke about Israel and education. There, the governor argued that “the biggest challenges that we face are largely driven by bad federal policies,” particularly scrutinizing Biden’s approach to energy amid high inflation and gas prices.
“We were close in ’18. I think if you look now at 2022, I’m able to say that the things that I promised, not only did I deliver — I overdelivered on what I promised I would do,” DeSantis said. “I want to see the highest voter turnout that we’ve ever had.”
