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Tampa, Fla., July 22, 2022
Performance by Governor Ron DeSantis to a young Florida audience.
The Republican, who is believed to be Donald Trump's biggest challenger within the party, throws caps into the crowd of students through wafts of fog.
His message for the upcoming midterms elections in November is clear: DeSantis promotes the fight against the incumbent Democrats with the help of TOP UP:
Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida
“I say to you for 2022, get ready for the fight.
Put on the armor of God!
Take a stand against the machinations of the left.«
During his appearances, he has not yet said that he himself is considering
running for the presidential elections in 2024.
For that, DeSantis would have to get in the ring with his mentor Trump.
And he's been extremely loyal to that until now.
DeSantis rode the Trump wave for his 2018 campaign for the gubernatorial seat.
The whole family was involved - more MAGA is not possible.
Officially, the Republican Party is not yet thinking out loud about a successor to Trump.
However, at the traditional White House Correspondents' Dinner, the obvious was already stated:
Washington DC / May 2022
Trevor Noah, Comedian
"I see you, Ron. What I love about Ron DeSantis: If Trump were the original Terminator, DeSantis is the t-1000. You're smarter than him, you're smarter. You can go down ramps. Trump said he won the election. But anyone who sees the numbers knows he was wrong. Ron DeSantis is clearly ahead: He will simply ban math books - then nobody can count the results anymore. Boom - that's how you do it!"
The contentual dig speaks to how the arch-conservative Ron DeSantis rules in Florida: under him, everything that doesn't fit into the world view is banned.
The so-called "Don't Say Gay" law bans teaching sexual orientation in elementary schools.
A protest by the film production company Disney, after all one of the largest employers in the state, left him cold.
Because the radical Kulturkampf is well received by many conservatives.
The result: DeSantis' star is now rising in the polls nationwide.
A survey from the end of June shows the trend:
4 out of 10 Republicans either thought Trump should not run again or at least were no longer sure whether he should do so.
Given a choice between Trump or DeSantis, 45% of respondents were still for Trump - but 36% of respondents already voted for DeSantis as the next presidential candidate.
One of the loudest celebrity advocates is tech mogul Elon Musk.
The former Trump adviser is spreading the word on his favorite channel that it's time for Trump - quote - to "sail into the sunset".
DeSantis, on the other hand, doesn't even need an election campaign, he would - quote - »easily win« against Joe Biden.
Now, Elon Musk is known for throwing campaign donations in every direction.
The usual constituency of Republicans then looks very different.
The famous Republican base installed someone like Trump in 2016.
Secure;
There are still loyal Trump fans, but they too can count on her husband starting in 2024 at the age of 82.
DeSantis, who is also known as “Trump with a brain” because of his elite university education, has a clear advantage when it comes to age: he is 43. The Harvard lawyer uses social networks differently than Trump: via Instagram he curries at least musically with a younger electorate .
An official confirmation of possible presidential plans will hardly be available from DeSantis any time soon.
First, the incumbent governor in his state of Florida has to fight for his post.
The primary for the fall gubernatorial election will be held on August 23.