Waiting in the wings of the Republican Party at this moment is a crowd of wold-be contenders, patiently biding their time until they have a real sense of the kind of trouble that Donald Trump might be in.
The former President is facing a number of legal and political attacks at the moment, perhaps the most worrisome consisting of a number of criminal referrals from the January 6th select committee to the Department of Justice that could land Trump in some seriously deep excrement.
And, for those looking to challenge Trump for the Republican nomination in 2024, there’s no real reason to waste money to confront him head-on when you can wait and have the DOJ and the Democrats do your dirty work for you.
But there are certainly signs that some of the more prominent names in the ether of possibility are getting ready to dive into the race.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’, R., second-term inauguration speech inspired praise and speculation about a 2024 presidential run Tuesday. DeSantis, who won his re-election bid this past November by a whopping 19.4 percentage points, is seen as a top contender for the White House and an alternative to former President Trump.
“DeSantis’ Florida inauguration speech sure sounds a lot like the launch of a Presidential campaign,” Tim Young, a conservative commentator, tweeted.
DeSantis appeared to be trying some catchphrases on for size as well.
During his second inaugural address, the Republican governor contrasted his record with that of Democrat-run states. He called Florida the “promised land of sanity,” and said the sunshine state is where “woke goes to die.”
Others began to suggest that the Florida Governor could provide some sort of solution for the growing divide within the GOP itself.
Aaron Navarro, a CBS News reporter, contrasted DeSantis’s success to national Republicans’ struggles.
“Today – Republicans in DC are in distress, but Republicans in Florida are celebrating,” he tweeted.
Steve Deast, a BlazeTV host, struck a similar tone.
“Contrast the Republican Party in DC, who can’t decide which ‘muh Ukraine’ flag waver to make Speaker, with the scene and themes of Republican Governor Ron DeSantis’ second inauguration in Florida. It’s like these aren’t even the same political parties,” he tweeted.
DeSantis has been polling incredibly strongly in recent weeks as well, which has turned up the heat on a simmering feud between he and Donald Trump. Hearing DeSantis’ recent tone, it stands to reckon that there’s plenty more turbulence where that came from.
