TEGA CAY, S.C. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke Monday to a crowd at the Phillip T. Glennon Community Center in Tega Cay to make his case on why he should be the next president of the U.S.
“Are you ready to help me send Joe Biden back to his basement in Delaware?” DeSantis asked his followers Monday.
He’s hoping to gain support to become the Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential election.
The latest poll from National Public Affairs shows DeSantis is in second place in South Carolina, trailing former President Donald Trump by 23 points.
When asked what separates him from Trump, DeSantis said he can get more accomplished by serving two consecutive terms. DeSantis also criticized the 45th president for not firing Dr. Anthony Fauci.
“I think everybody has to agree, he did not drain the swamp,” DeSantis said.
A Trump-supporting attendee said DeSantis is making her second guess her support.
“I have to think more with my heart and what’s best for my country,” the attendee said.
DeSantis will be in Columbia rolling out a military policy to “Get the woke out.”
The Florida governor visited Iowa over the weekend and criticized the “woke military.”
“The military has been indulging in things like social experimentation, political ideology, a woke agenda, which is taking your eye off the mission and focusing on things that are simply not the core function of the military,” DeSantis said.
South Carolina Democratic Chair John Kraljevich doesn’t believe his message will resonate in the state.
“I think that most people are over his kind of politics,” Kraljevich said. “They’re over the culture wars instead of an actual agenda that affects working people.”
DeSantis will next be in Columbia rolling out a military policy to “Get the woke out.”
The South Carolina primary is on Feb. 24. There are two major political figures from this state who are running for president. They are Sen. Tim Scott and former Gov. Nikki Haley
Return to this story and watch Eyewitness News for updates from Political Beat Reporter Joe Bruno.
VIDEO: DeSantis to become 1st GOP candidate to file for South Carolina primary during visit next week
©2023 Cox Media Group
