Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has officially entered the 2024 presidential race. But as VOA correspondent Steve Herman reports, in order to take on potential Democratic nominee President Joe Biden, he'll have to beat first, former President Donald Trump.
Ron DeSantis made the decision official Wednesday night, announcing his run for president in a voice-only Twitter chat, riddled with technical glitches. But during the launch of his first campaign video, everything went well.
" I'm Ron DeSantis and I'm running for president, to lead our great comeback as Americans ."
Polls show the Florida governor running second, but by a significant margin, to Donald Trump in the intra-party race.
Political experts, such as Daniel Cox of the American Enterprise Institute, a public policy think tank, are cautious about early polls.
" Surveys are useful. They can determine where the competitors are at a given moment in the race. But anything can happen ," he says.
According to polls, support for Mr. DeSantis was higher a few months ago. His popularity was damaged by comments he made on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which he characterized as a territorial dispute, meetings and meals with wealthy donors, and a perceived failure to connect with a part of voters.
Support for Mr. Trump remains strong among much of his traditional conservative base, especially those without a college education or higher incomes.
But the Florida governor is showing strength with another key Republican group, Mr. Cox says.
" Trump was thought to be the favorite among white, evangelical Christians, but polls show, at least so far, that they also seem to support DeSantis. "
Mr. Trump says he deserves credit for transforming Mr. DeSantis from an obscure lawmaker into a two-term governor.
"It is a real honor to be here and enjoy the support of the president of the United States," said Mr. DeSantis during a speech.
Mr. Trump has already warned Mr. DeSantis, whom he tried to dissuade from running, that he will attack his opponent mercilessly. An approach that, in 2016, helped him eliminate other Republican candidates from the race, subsequently winning the race for the White House.
"Merita duhet t'i takojë politikës së identitetit".
Kështu u shpreh zoti DeSantis në Twitter të mërkurën në mbrëmje, një prej disa sulmeve indirekte ndaj zotit Trump. Por ajo që tërhoqi vëmendjen e shtypit, ishin problemet teknike të platformës sociale, gjatë intervistës së tij.
Që zoti DeSantis të mposhtë zotit Trump, retorika e tij duhet te jetë më e fortë ndaj kandidatit kryesor republikan, thotë William Galston i institutin ‘Brookings’.
“Nëse zoti DeSantis do të fitojë garën brenda partise, ai nuk duhet t'i bjerë rreth e rrotull kur flet për Donald Trump-in, por t’i drejtohet atij direkt. Ai duhet të tregojë të njëjtën forcë në përballjen me Donald Trump-in, sikurse Trump-i po përpiqet të tregojë në përballjen me të”.
Mr. DeSantis' team also hopes that Republican voters will be drawn to his record as an ultra-conservative. As governor of Florida, Mr. DeSantis has outlawed abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy, limited gay and transgender rights, and waged a high-profile battle against Disney, the second-largest employer. Florida State's private major.
Now the governor finds himself shifting his attention from 'Mickey Mouse' to Donald Trump./VOA