DeSantis Insiders Say He'll Form Exploratory Committee in Mid-May; Trump Says He Should Drop Out to Show His "Loyalty"

Ron DeSantis may announce the formation of a presidential exploratory committee in mid-May.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is poised to jump into the presidential fray as soon as mid-May, four GOP operatives familiar with the conversations told NBC News.

One of the sources emphasized that it would be an exploratory committee, with the official launch coming soon after.

Some of his backers are urging him to declare as early as May 11, to counter the creeping national narrative that former President Donald Trump is the overwhelming front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination. Others in the governor's orbit, however, have argued that that date would be too soon, according to two of those sources. All emphasized, however, that mid-May is the target.

Trump continues pounding his personal obsession, that because he endorsed DeSantis in 2018, DeSantis owes him "loyalty" in perpetuity.

Donald Trump's campaign has called out Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a new TV ad for "attacking" the former Republican president and one-time ally -- and suggested the governor should drop out of the race before he even gets in.

"Ron DeSantis was struggling big time in his primary race for governor of Florida," says the ad's narrator, referring to the 44-year-old's first gubernatorial run in 2018.

"Polls revealed DeSantis was failing so bad, he was losing by a staggering 17 points," the narrator adds. "Then DeSantis was saved by the endorsement of President Trump.

"Trump's support was so powerful, just two days after the endorsement, DeSantis took a commanding lead and it propelled him to being elected governor."

The ad includes a clip from DeSantis' victory speech in November 2018, in which the potential 2024 GOP challenger says, "I'd like to thank our president for standing by me when it wasn't necessarily the smart thing to do."

"You're welcome, Ron," the narrator resumes. "Unfortunately, instead of being grateful, DeSantis is now attacking the very man who saved his career. Isn't it time DeSantis remembers how he got to where he is?"

As someone at HotAir pointed out, not only did DeSantis return the favor by endorsing and campaigning for Florida in 2020, but he also was a strong voice defending Trump on RussiaGate. One might wonder if Trump's endorsement of DeSantis was payback for that critical Russiagate defense. In which case, this was an act of self-interest, not generosity to DeSantis.

In any event, no one owes someone "loyalty" for life for a couple of five minute endorsement announcement. It's silly. There's a limit to how much and for how long someone "owes" you, even if he saves your life.

And I know this upsets people to hear, but Ron DeSantis did give Trump an open lane for reelection... in 2020. This is DeSantis' year. DeSantis isn't intruding in Trump's year; Trump is intruding in DeSantis'.

I know people keep saying "DeSantis should wait." Wait? You mean wait until he no longer has a high-profile job as governor? Wait until people begin forgetting him, like Christie did when he refused to run in 2012 and then discovered no one wanted to hear about him in 2016?

Wait until he's out of office and forced to take a job as a lobbyist or lawyer, which will then, no doubt, be used to tar him?

Wait until after he's left office and disbanded the team of loyalists around him who then are forced to take jobs with other politicians? Hillary Rodham created the Clinton Global Initiative to keep her loyalists paid during her interregnum. I assume no one is suggesting DeSantis do the same.

No, this is his year. Sorry, but 2020 was Trump's year. Trump doesn't get to keep on running until he wins. At least he doesn't get to do so with no one else challenging him.

posted by Ace at 05:20 PM

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