Asked about polls that showed him trailing former President Donald Trump, DeSantis stated, “I’m not a candidate, so we’ll see if and when that changes,” said the Republican who has not officially launched a White House bid.
Although he’s not officially announced a bid, DeSantis has polled as a top possible contender — and regularly the top potential challenger to Trump — in GOP primary hypotheticals, and he has made moves that have stoked speculation about a possible campaign. He said earlier this year that he would make a 2024 decision after Florida’s legislative session wraps up in May.
But recent polling has shown Trump pulling further ahead of the GOP field, and DeSantis is facing concerns from within his party about his strength and urgency about the race.
The Florida governor met on Monday with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Reuters reports, as part of a four-country trip apparently aimed at upping DeSantis’s and Florida’s international profile. He’s also visited throughout the U.S. on his book tour and met with congressional Republicans in D.C. earlier this month.
Some reports state that the trip is intended to improve DeSantis’ and Florida’s international profile, something he tried to do with his domestic tours for literary presentations and the meeting with Republican congressmen at early-April.
Interestingly, DeSantis’ nomination for the 2024 race appeared in the form released by the Federal Election Commission.
According to a document released by FEC, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Lynn Noem (R) will be his running mate and will run for vice president.
Trump launched his election campaign past November 15, the third in his political career, and so did former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and Larry Elder, a radio broadcaster.
Democrats, on the other hand, back up environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and so-called self-help guru Marianne Williamson as candidates for the Blue Party.
President Joe Biden is expected to launch his re-election campaign on Tuesday, coinciding with the date four years ago as he started off his 2020 presidential race.
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