MIAMI – On Thursday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced new initiatives aimed at cracking down on undocumented migrants, taking on a federal issue important to Republicans.
While he hasn’t announced whether he intends to run for president in 2024, all the signs are there.
The governor’s public platform in this presidential election cycle is a 24/7 messaging machine to frame his narrative — and news media who can’t not show up when a sitting governor calls.
Is he ramping up for a run?
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” DeSantis recently said.
Inquiring minds would like to know. So would Republican Party voters, watching increasing messaging from former President Donald Trump, who considers DeSantis his protégé and now chief rival.
Trump, who has already launched a campaign to return to the White House, has taken to calling DeSantis “Ron DeSanctimonious.”
The former president’s only notable Republican Party challenger thus far is former South Carolina governor and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley.
Beyond a formal announcement, DeSantis is making all the moves.
He has a campaign and fundraising infrastructure in place, is traveling, giving speeches and fundraising in cities across the country, has a book about to launch and, in the next two months leading up to a prime announcement time, a supermajority in Tallahassee filing the bills he backs: taking on big lawyers, big corporations, big media, and the so-called “woke left.”
So why hasn’t Gov. DeSantis announced yet? Because he doesn’t really have to.
He’s bringing in millions and millions of dollars every day.
DeSantis recently hinted on a conservative cable news channel that he might make an announcement in May, following Florida’s legislative session.