Governor Ron DeSantis, who is expected to announce his presidential candidacy soon, directly criticized Trump’s recent remarks, suggesting that Florida’s new six-week abortion ban was “too harsh.” DeSantis pointed out that Trump had avoided stating whether he would support the bill. Former President Donald Trump appears to be shifting his position, and the Florida Governor is seizing the opportunity to challenge him on this divisive issue. The subject of abortion is likely to be a key issue in the 2024 Republican primary.
Trump had been relentlessly attacking DeSantis for months, but the governor’s response was minimal. However, during a bill-signing event, Governor DeSantis made uncommon comments directly contradicting former President Trump.
It’s worth noting that Trump played a significant role in the recent blow to federal abortion rights. With his appointment of three conservative Supreme Court justices, the Court ultimately voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. This momentous decision fulfilled Trump’s 2016 campaign pledge to delegate abortion regulations to individual states.
During a recent call with donors and supporters hosted by the DeSantis-aligned political action committee (PAC) Never Back Down, the governor confidently asserted that only three candidates were “credible” contenders for the White House: himself, former President Donald Trump, and President Joe Biden. DeSantis emphasized his belief that he is the sole candidate capable of defeating Biden in the general election, citing data from swing states that indicate a decline in the former president’s popularity.
Real Clear Politics reports in a head-to-head matchup DeSantis holds a narrow 0.5-point lead over Biden on average, while Trump leads Biden by 1 point on average. While DeSantis expressed appreciation for Trump’s policies, he also highlighted that Biden had undone many.
DeSantis stated that voters are eager to move on from Biden and are seeking a candidate they can rally behind, indicating that Trump does not fulfill that role for many voters. He also noted that the corporate media appears to favor Trump as the nominee.
The Wall Street Journal reported that DeSantis is expected to submit his candidacy paperwork to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on May 25, coinciding with a donor event in Miami. He plans to release a campaign video and participate in events in early primary states.
Despite gaining endorsements from numerous state lawmakers in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Florida, DeSantis currently trails by a significant margin in the polls.
Meanwhile, Rupert Murdoch, the head of Fox Corporation, has taken a clear position in the 2024 Republican race by throwing his support behind DeSantis. Vanity Fair revealed that Murdoch hosted Governor DeSantis for dinner at his Vineyard in Bel Air, California, in 2020, where he assured him of Fox’s backing for a potential presidential run.
These continuing developments indicate a significant shift in the dynamics of the upcoming 2024 national elections. Rupert Murdoch’s support for Ron DeSantis carries considerable weight, given his influence as the head of Fox Corporation, a prominent conservative news outlet.
The fact that Murdoch personally invited DeSantis to his Vineyard in Bel Air, California, and expressed Fox’s backing for his potential presidential run demonstrates Murdoch’s confidence in the Florida governor’s candidacy.
This year, Fox has noticeably increased its coverage of DeSantis while implementing a soft ban on Donald Trump. This shift in focus may be attributed to multiple factors, including the Dominion lawsuit, which has created legal concerns for news corporations involved in election controversies. Consequently, Fox seems to be distancing itself from the Trump narrative, providing DeSantis more exposure and visibility.
With DeSantis expected to officially file his candidacy papers with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on May 25, accompanied by a Miami donor event and a forthcoming campaign video, his ambitions to secure the Republican nomination are clear. However, DeSantis currently faces a considerable poll deficit despite his endorsements from state lawmakers in crucial primary states such as Iowa, New Hampshire, and Florida.
The road to the 2024 Republican nomination and the general election appears to be highly competitive and fraught with political divisions. As DeSantis challenges Trump on the abortion debate and gains support from influential figures like Rupert Murdoch, the dynamics within the Republican Party continue to evolve. These developments will determine the outcome of the upcoming elections and the direction of the party.