Hosts Trump Backers At Fundraiser And Launches A Cross-Country Book Tour

Topline

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is promoting his political platform in a series of cross-country tours and hosted a fundraiser attended by one-time allies to former President Donald Trump over the weekend, setting the stage for a potential 2024 presidential run, though he has yet to formally announce his candidacy.

Then-U.S. President Donald Trump introduces Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during a homecoming … [+] campaign rally at the BB&T Center on November 26, 2019 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Key Facts

The Florida governor on Tuesday will release a book—a political move that is often a precursor to a presidential run—titled The Courage to Be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Survival in which he reportedly criticizes Big Tech and Trump’s extension of Covid-19 lockdowns.

The book release will coincide with a cross-country tour, including stops in Alabama, Texas and California, with a sold-out appearance at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, Calif.

DeSantis hosted a retreat in Palm Beach over the weekend that was attended by former Trump allies, including Sen. Ron Johnson, who promoted Trump’s false claims of fraud during the 2020 presidential election, though Johnson’s spokesperson told CBS News he plans to continue his tradition of remaining “impartial” in primaries in 2024.

Other Trump allies in attendance included Trump donor and founder of the Arizona solar-energy firm DEPCOM Power, Jim Lamon, along with Roy Bailey, the former co-chair of Trump’s fundraising committee in the 2020 presidential election, Politico reported.

DeSantis will attend GOP dinners in Houston, Dallas and California this week in lieu of the Conservative Political Action Conference, what’s considered one of the most prominent annual gatherings of Republicans and is set to convene in Washington on Wednesday, NBC reported, citing a source who is familiar with his plans.

Last week, DeSantis spoke at events hosted by a new nonprofit group supporting him, “And to the Republic,” in Philadelphia, New York and Chicago, where he promoted his pro-law enforcement agenda, touted low crime rates in Florida and criticized liberal policies, including critical race theory and bail reform.

Key Background

DeSantis has hinted at the prospects of a 2024 presidential campaign, but is widely expected to hold off on announcing a run until the end of the Florida legislative session in May. DeSantis gained political notoriety campaigning for Trump in the 2020 presidential election and during the Covid-19 pandemic when Florida became a haven for people looking to escape stricter lockdown policies in Democrat-controlled states. He beat Democrat Charlie Crist by nearly 20 points in the 2022 midterm election to win a second term and became the first GOP gubernatorial candidate to win Miami-Dade County since former Gov. Jeb Bush, who recently gave a tempered endorsement of DeSantis in an interview with Fox News.

Contra

While DeSantis has largely shied away from criticizing Trump, the former president has ramped up the attacks on his one-time protege, coining the nickname “Ron DeSanctimonious,” and accusing DeSantis of flip-flopping on Covid-19 policies and being disloyal to him. Trump has also picked up the pace of his campaign in recent weeks after launching his candidacy on wounded footing a week after the midterm election—an announcement that came as many prominent GOP members blamed him for the party’s worse-than-expected performance in key Senate and House races where Trump backed the losing candidates. Trump visited the site of the toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, last week, where he distributed water and joined the chorus of GOP criticism of the federal government’s response to the disaster. Trump’s MAGA Inc. super PAC also hosted a dinner fundraiser to support his campaign on Friday, the day before DeSantis’ weekend retreat kicked off at the Four Seasons just four miles away.

Big Number

28%. That’s the percentage of Republican primary voters surveyed by Fox News this month who said they would vote for DeSantis, of 15 possible and confirmed 2024 GOP presidential contenders. Trump netted support from 43% of respondents, according to the poll of 1,006 registered voters (+/-3).

What To Watch For

Who else will enter the 2024 race for the GOP nomination. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley became the first Republican candidate to announce she would challenge Trump earlier this month. Investment firm manager Vivek Ramaswamy announced a bid last week. Former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott have also suggested they are considering entering the fray. While the race appears to be off to a slower than expected start, politicos have speculated that candidates are waiting to announce until the various legal probes into Trump play out. He faces potential charges in the Justice Department’s investigations into his role in the January 6 Capitol riot and his handling of classified documents after leaving office. A Georgia grand jury investigating Trump’s and his allies’ efforts to overturn the election recently concluded its work, and a juror went public last week to say it recommended criminal charges against multiple individuals. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office has also convened a grand jury to weigh charges against Trump for his role in payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about her alleged affair with Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign.