Ron DeSantis joins 2024 presidential race (May 2023)
Republican Florida governor
Ron DeSantis filed the official paperwork declaring his candidacy, setting up
the daunting long road to overcoming the present polling lead of GOP supporters
of Donald Trump.
In the Western Standard, I
previously reviewed the DeSantis book “The Courage to be Free”. The pugnacious
governor of Florida who has championed conservative causes has been successful against
a sometimes-hostile media and the political left. He officially entered the
presidential race to give Donald Trump the most formidable Republican rival.
In my view, DeSantis is the
only viable challenger to Trump.
He filed the paperwork with
the Federal Election Commission just before a live stream announcement on
Twitter. The entry of Mr. DeSantis presents a serious question for the
Republican Party, which will choose between a repeat with Trump, or the new
contender to take on President Biden.
DeSantis is well-educated and
has credentials. Conservatives have observed his management of challenges in
leading Florida on a different path with a series of conservative policy
victories after a landslide re-election approval last fall. He has demonstrated
personal strengths and has attracted substantial financial backing, and comes
with a well-run campaign operation.
The governor rose to national
prominence with his policies of not going along with the crowd of heavy
restrictions during the coronavirus period. Some say it can be a model policy
approach for shaping the United States more conservatively on social issues.
What he’s done in Florida has been a national beacon for conservatives
throughout the country.
Trump has a mounting list of
legal troubles and sees DeSantis as a real political competitor. Trump has
mocked him as “Ron DeSanctimonious” and criticized his political leadership
record in Florida.
DeSantis is serious, and
Republican voters are looking for a champion beyond Trump who can fight the
Democrats and win. Mr. DeSantis has his best chance of overcoming if he can
sideline the field of lesser candidates who have already declared, and
ultimately turn the contest into a two-person race.
As the rhetoric heats up,
DeSantis has criticized Trump for not endorsing his Florida policies, and has
described a “culture of losing” he says prevails around Trump’s leadership. He
boldly asserts that Trump could not beat Biden in a general election, but that
he can.
DeSantis’s supporters say that
the long-anticipated official candidacy will finally give media attention to him
as the alternative to Trump, and will unequivocally say to donors that the
store is open. Major donors have been waiting for DeSantis to get in the race.
These events matter to
Canadians, unlike much of what the CBC reports about US politics.
No comments:
Post a Comment