A month ago, I asked whether Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will remain a viable 2028 candidate since it is nearly impossible for other Republican candidates to gain an advantage over former President Donald Trump. Just a few weeks ago I speculated on how DeSantis might have gained that edge once Trump was removed from the Colorado ballot.
A long-time Florida governor’s adviser named Ryan Tyson allegedly said, in private, that the DeSantis Campaign is prepared to “make the patients feel comfortable” as in it’s close to dying and they only need to make it painless.
DeSantis’s director of communications Andrew Romeo denied that Tyson said this. He said it was an anonymous hit job, and that DeSantis had worked hard in Iowa campaigning and had been underestimated previously.
The child in me tells Romeo: “Don’t ruin it.”
Tim Hogan, of Arc Initiatives, predicted that DeSantis would drop out if he didn’t win Iowa or come in “a good second.”
DeSantis will have a problem in 2028 if he wants to run for president: Donald Trump is the Republican Party’s leader and his words are taken seriously, even by those who don’t agree with them. His influence will be felt for many years to come, and thanks to the internet, it is likely that this will continue.
DeSantis’ exit from the race will not save his chances in 2028 or his political future. Trump and his supporters online will call him a loser for running against one of America’s most popular presidents (if not ever) and refusing to return Trump’s support when he ran as governor.
He should, therefore, take a cue from his ally Steve Deace, who said that Trump was kicked off the Colorado ballot after his suspension announcement, and (to use a phrase again) eat humble pies rather than crow, by saying that, although he had tried to run under the Trump name without the legal dramas, the voters chose Trump because of the injustice and unjustness of the legal dramas, making it clear that their actions are unfounded, unjust and blatantly politically motivated.
DeSantis must also state that he supports Trump as the candidate.
You will then say “But Grayson, DeSantis didn’t do anything to show his willingness to support Trump before he dropped out; why would people believe him now?”
DeSantis’ suspension announcement could provide the answer.
“When I started my campaign in May, I said I was Trump without the legal drama. As we’ve seen, it is precisely the Deep State’s and Democrats’ efforts to keep Trump from the White House that energize voters. They know that these efforts are transparently political and unfounded. It is clear that what they’re doing to Trump, which I don’t condone, is wrong. Although I was asked to condemn the actions more strongly, I chose my message over the truth of the situation.
While my ultimate allegiance is to God, my wife, and my country I suspend my campaign and endorse Donald Trump, as the nominee. Because ultimately the forces that are undermining America want us, Trump just gets in their way. I have criticized him before and during the campaign. But the United States can’t afford to continue with a Democrat as president for another four years.
In this regard, I will spend the remainder of my tenure as Governor of Florida working to ensure that my state’s election is free and fair. I also encourage Gov. Kim Reynolds from Iowa, Rep. Chip Roy from Texas, and other public officials who have supported my campaign should do the same. Voters are rightly suspicious of the results of the 2020 elections and we need to ensure 2024 is not the same. If Democrats win, America will lose.
