Florida’s governor and GOP rising star on Thursday suspended an elected attorney in the Tampa area who had signed a pledge not to prosecute those who seek or perform abortions after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade . which protected the right to abortion. It’s just the latest in a growing list of moves designed to win over the GOP’s conservative base amid speculation that DeSantis could seek a run for the White House in the coming years. “He’s sending a message to Republican voters and the American people that he’s a leader, and he’s willing to make very tough decisions that a lot of other elected officials aren’t, and he’s willing to fire people that people think are untouchable. , and that is critical for someone who is going to run for president in 2024,” said Terry Schilling, president of the conservative grassroots organization, American Principles Project. DeSantis’ office billed Thursday’s announcement suspending State Attorney Andrew Warren, a rising star in Florida Democratic circles, as a formal matter. But for many, the episode was just DeSantis’ latest attempt to appeal to a growing national conservative base — something he’s done with increasing vigor in recent years. Thomas Kennedy, a member of the Florida Democratic National Committee and a staunch critic of DeSantis, described the governor’s announcement as a “political stunt,” noting how his press secretary Christina Pushaw teased the announcement the night before as a “liberal media meltdown of the year .” “The evidence is in their words. You literally had his spokesman call it the liberal meltdown of the year,” Kennedy said. “They were looking for a reaction, they got their reaction. Everything they’re doing is a gimmick and it’s aimed at Republican voters in early primary states.” It was a familiar tactic for DeSantis, whose name has topped the list of potential GOP presidential candidates for the past two years. During that time, he defied the advice of public health officials about the COVID-19 pandemic, suppressed public protests, banned the teaching of so-called critical race theory in public schools and picked a high-profile fight with Walt Disney World. one of the state’s biggest tourist attractions. And for many conservatives, including Schilling, that combative approach to politics and business is precisely what makes DeSantis appealing. “We’re actually getting to a point in time where you can’t really separate politics from doing the right thing,” Schilling said. “Ron DeSandis took on Disney for crying out loud. This is a guy who is willing to take on powerful interests if it means protecting the people he represents.” Even during his first run for governor in 2018, DeSantis drew attention for his controversial, no-holds-barred campaign style. An ad at the time showed DeSantis telling his young daughter to “build the wall” as she played with toy blocks. Elsewhere on the campaign trail, he faced criticism after warning Floridians not to “mess it up” by voting for his Democratic opponent Andrew Gillum, who is black. Since then, DeSantis has made a name for himself as a hard-line culture warrior, willing to push the limits of his power to advance his vision of conservatism. While that strategy has made him a much-hated villain for Democrats, it has won him the praise of many Republicans who have come to see him cautiously as a successor to former President Trump. “Ron DeSantis is a master class in how to talk grassroots. how to compete with Democrats in a way that, I think, to a lot of Republicans, seems completely common sense,” said one Republican donor. “He doesn’t do this incoherent nonsense like Donald Trump did. He’s methodical and that’s why he’s coming up as fast as he is.” And indeed, DeSantis’ political rise seems very real. Not only has he emerged as one of—if not the most powerful—governors in Florida’s recent history, he’s cemented himself as one of the most influential Republicans in the country at a time when the GOP is out of power in Washington. DeSantis has raised more than $100 million for his campaign while meeting with major Republican officials and donors far from his home state. Earlier this year, for example, he met with top Trump donors in South Carolina, sparking speculation that he may be considering a White House bid. He is also one of the few Republican presidential candidates who have refused to rule out a 2024 campaign if Trump decides to run for the White House again. And should Trump not run again, early polls show DeSantis would be a heavy favorite to win the GOP nomination. A Harvard CAPS-Harris poll released this week found that, without Trump on the ballot, DeSantis would lead his closest challenger, former Vice President Mike Pence, by 15 points. “I think voters are going to have a hard time choosing between Donald Trump and Ron DeSandis because they’re so similar in what they offer,” Schilling said. “I don’t think DeSantis exists without Donald Trump opening that huge door for him and showing what you can do through the political lens and at the same time, I’m so impressed with Ron DeSantis. He has stepped up in ways that no other governor has.” Meanwhile, however, DeSantis is deflecting questions about his future political ambitions, saying only that he is focused on winning a second term in the governor’s mansion in November. His chances, at least for now, look solid: He has raised far more money than any of his Democratic rivals — Rep. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.) and state Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried — and what few public polls there are in The race shows DeSantis with a wide margin over his two potential opponents. White House seeks to build momentum from Kansas abortion vote Trump slams reconciliation deal, backs rally while slams Republican foes Of course, things could change before election day. But DeSantis’ relative comfort with his re-election gave him a chance to lay the groundwork for his political future, Kennedy said. “He’s making a calculation,” Kennedy said. “Democrats are confused about his perspective and so, in his opinion, he sees no reason to compromise.” “He believes he can win Florida,” Kennedy added. “And at the same time, he’s trying to position himself as the new Republican leader. the new Donald Trump.”
