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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGOP Insiders are starting to doubt Ron Desantis would actually take on Trump
Vanity FairBy all accounts, Florida governor Ron DeSantis is on a glide path to win reelection on November 8. Several recent polls have shown DeSantis with a double-digit lead over his Democratic opponent, former representative Charlie Crist. Which means the biggest question about DeSantiss political future is not whether hell secure a second term in Tallahassee, but whether hell challenge Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination.
For much of the past year, DeSantis has acted like a presidential candidate-in-waiting, leading many to believe he would take on Trump if the former president, as expected, gets in the race. DeSantis pointedly refused to seek Trumps endorsement for his reelection. And during a debate against Crist last month, he declined to promise he would serve out his full four-year term as governor. DeSantis is also sitting on a campaign war chest of more than $180 million. In a profile of DeSantis for Vanity Fairs November issue, I reported that DeSantis privately told donors that if he did run, he would launch a full-frontal assault on Trumps record and competence.
But according to four prominent Republicans, DeSantis appears to be reconsidering his plans to run. Sources told me DeSantis recently indicated to donors that he would not challenge Trump for the Republican nomination. Hes led them to believe he will not run if Trump does, a Republican briefed on the donor conversations told me. Another source told me DeSantiss calculus is that, at age 44, he can easily wait until the next presidential cycle, so why risk a brutal primary fight against a pugilist like Trump? He can walk into the presidency in 2028 without pissing off Trump or Florida, the source said. What would you rather do? Be the governor of Florida for certain or go run for president?
For much of the past year, DeSantis has acted like a presidential candidate-in-waiting, leading many to believe he would take on Trump if the former president, as expected, gets in the race. DeSantis pointedly refused to seek Trumps endorsement for his reelection. And during a debate against Crist last month, he declined to promise he would serve out his full four-year term as governor. DeSantis is also sitting on a campaign war chest of more than $180 million. In a profile of DeSantis for Vanity Fairs November issue, I reported that DeSantis privately told donors that if he did run, he would launch a full-frontal assault on Trumps record and competence.
But according to four prominent Republicans, DeSantis appears to be reconsidering his plans to run. Sources told me DeSantis recently indicated to donors that he would not challenge Trump for the Republican nomination. Hes led them to believe he will not run if Trump does, a Republican briefed on the donor conversations told me. Another source told me DeSantiss calculus is that, at age 44, he can easily wait until the next presidential cycle, so why risk a brutal primary fight against a pugilist like Trump? He can walk into the presidency in 2028 without pissing off Trump or Florida, the source said. What would you rather do? Be the governor of Florida for certain or go run for president?
Not unreasonable. Trump would likely do anything he could to ruin Desantis' chances if he beat Trump in the 2024 Primary. He can wait out either a second Trump term or a second Biden term and run with no incumbent Democrat.
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GOP Insiders are starting to doubt Ron Desantis would actually take on Trump (Original Post)
brooklynite
Nov 2022
OP
JustAnotherGen
(31,856 posts)1. A second Trump term?
Trump will have ALL of his enemies imprisoned or killed. Let's not gild the lily here.
DeSantis would be a threat - so he would be one of the first to go. DeSantis better pray Biden wins.
live love laugh
(13,124 posts)2. But he didn't answer whether he'd finish his term
as governor.