VOA: Governor DeSantis and the challenge he presents to former President Trump

2023-05-25 17:16:24, Kosova & Bota CNA

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 up to this point, that they also seem to support DeSantis."

Zotit Trump thotë se i takon atij merita për transformimin e zotit DeSantis, nga një ligjvënës i panjohur, në një guvernator me dy mandate.

“Është një nder i vërtetë të jem këtu e të gëzoj mbështetjen e presidentit të Shteteve të Bashkuara”, tha zoti DeSantis gjate nje fjalimi.

Zoti Trump e ka paralajmëruar tashmë zotin DeSantis, të cilin ai u përpoq ta shkurajojë për të mos kandiduar, se ai do ta sulmojë pa mëshirë kundërshtarin e tij. Një qasje që në vitin 2016, e ndihmoi atë të eliminonte nga gara kandidatët e tjerë republikanë, duke fituar më pas edhe garën për Shtëpinë e Bardhë.

"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