Samuel Case, FISM News
Advisers for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are reportedly preparing for his presidential run in 2024, as former South Carolina Gov. and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley is expected to launch a campaign this month.
The Washington Post over the weekend reported, “Advisers to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are actively preparing for a possible presidential run, according to two Republicans with knowledge of the conversations who described meetings and preliminary staffing moves — the latest indication that DeSantis is laying a foundation for a national campaign.”
The Post says the DeSantis team is already identifying potential campaign hires in early primary states like New Hampshire and Iowa.
Meanwhile, a report from the Post and Courier says Haley will announce a presidential bid on February 15 in Charleston, South Carolina. If true, she will be the first Republican primary challenger to former President Donald Trump, who launched a third presidential bid shortly after the 2022 midterm elections.
Earlier this month, Haley strongly hinted at a White House run during an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier. Haley said the country needs leadership “to go in a new direction,” adding, “I think I can be that leader.”
Nikki Haley is asked tonight if she is running for president: “Am I that person that can be that new leader? That yes, we need to go in a new direction. Can I be that leader? Yes, I think I can be that leader.” pic.twitter.com/wN9JL0QTNm
— Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦 (@RonFilipkowski) January 19, 2023
This comes as Trump set out on the campaign trail this past weekend, where he laid out a vision for his presidency while ramping up the attacks on DeSantis.
On Saturday, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, where he bashed DeSantis regarding his handling of COVID-19, claiming the governor “unapologetically shut down Florida and its beaches.”
Meanwhile, Trump has been less harsh with Haley. “I talked to her for a little while, I said, ‘Look, you know, go by your heart if you want to run,'” Trump said.
On Tuesday, DeSantis indirectly responded to Trump’s criticism, telling reporters “I roll out of bed, I have people attacking me from all angles.”
“You take a crisis situation like COVID, the good thing about it is when you’re an elected executive, you have to make all kinds of decisions, you’ve got to steer that ship,” the Florida governor said.
“And the good thing is, is that the people are able to render a judgment on that, whether they reelect you or not,” DeSantis said. “And I’m happy to say, you know, in my case, not only did we win re-election, we won with the highest percentage of the vote that any Republican governor candidate has in the history of the state of Florida.”
DESANTIS RESPONDS TO TRUMP ATTACKS: "I roll out of bed, I have people attacking me from all angles […] In my case, not only did we win re-election, we won with the highest percentage of the vote than any Republican governor candidate in the history of the state of Florida." pic.twitter.com/FLEXeVPlRn
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) January 31, 2023
The latest data from Morning Consult shows Trump with a clear advantage in the primaries. Trump leads DeSantis 48% to 31%, with former Vice President Mike Pence coming in a distant third with 8% and Haley trailing with 3%. Although some polls show DeSantis leading Trump by a strong margin.