Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will officially launch his highly-anticipated 2024 presidential run next week, according to multiple reports.
DeSantis, who is widely considered former President Donald Trump’s top competitor for the Republican nomination, plans to file the required Federal Election Commission paperwork before formally announcing his run in Dunedin, Florida, a legislative source in the state said, according to the New York Post.
A recently-established super PAC backing DeSantis reportedly raised a whopping $30 million in under a month, a PAC official told The New York Times. Dubbed “Never Back Down,” the new PAC’s website proclaims, “Every election is about the future. Ron DeSantis is the FUTURE and he will NEVER BACK DOWN.”
Trump has ramped up his attacks on DeSantis in recent weeks and continues to refer to the Florida governor as “DeSanctimonious.”
“Congratulations to a ‘star’ in Kentucky, Daniel Cameron, who easily won the Republican Nomination for Governor. He had my Complete and Total Endorsement. The DeSanctimonious backed candidate came in a DISTANT third. Ron’s magic is GONE! He also lost, shockingly, in Jacksonville last night (Mayor),” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
Trump also frequently posts polls showing he has a wide lead over DeSantis. Earlier this month, a new survey showed Trump beating President Joe Biden by 7 points in a potential 2024 presidential race rematch.
According to a Washington Post-ABC News poll, nearly half of Americans said they would “definitely” or “probably” vote for Trump, or are leaning toward voting for him, in a matchup against Biden.
The poll showed just 42 percent would “definitely” or “probably” vote for Biden, or are leaning toward voting for him if his opponent is Trump once again.
In addition to Trump and DeSantis, other Republicans who have thrown their hat in the ring include popular conservative Larry Elder, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
