Florida Governor Ron DeSantis launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump, holding him responsible for his own loss in the 2020 elections. During an event aimed at garnering support from Florida sheriffs, DeSantis not only criticized Trump but also questioned his rival's capability to lead the nation once more. This indicates DeSantis' intention to reshape the race by highlighting the perceived weaknesses of the former president.
Taking a clear jab at Trump's age and endurance, DeSantis humorously expressed his belief that the country doesn't need another president who has lost their vitality. He emphasized that the party's nomination should not be seen as a guaranteed victory, particularly for anyone who couldn't even prevent Joe Biden from becoming president.
When discussing the 2020 election, DeSantis remarked that people voted against Trump, effectively debunking the ongoing falsehoods surrounding a stolen election propagated by the former president and his supporters. This point was made even more apparent as failed congressional candidate Laura Loomer heckled DeSantis from outside his Tampa event, causing disruption with a blaring bullhorn that unsettled his staff and carried into the venue.
"He has undeniably energized Democrats," he asserted. "Even if John Kennedy were to enter the room at this moment, he wouldn't generate as much enthusiasm among Democrats as Donald Trump does."
DeSantis' comments reflect his recent shift towards a more assertive strategy, driven by the growing urgency to undermine Trump.
However, DeSantis' sharp and critical remarks on Thursday were significant in terms of what they implied for the upcoming weeks. Previously, DeSantis had strongly supported and then tried to disregard Trump, but now he seems ready to vigorously confront his former ally, hoping to compensate for his significant decline in the polls.
The Democrats have promptly capitalized on the deterioration of their relationship. Following DeSantis' statement calling Trump "missing in action" during the debate and blaming the Trump administration's spending for setting the stage for inflation, President Joe Biden shared a video clip on social media with the comment, "Exactly."
The recent wave of attacks stemmed from the questions DeSantis faced at the Tampa event. A self-proclaimed DeSantis supporter inquired about how the Florida governor plans to overcome a candidate who consistently draws large crowds to their rallies. In response, DeSantis promptly retorted, stating, "That won't be the case anymore."
Here's the thing: the vote of a person who attends 10 rallies holds no more weight than that of someone who lacks enthusiasm but still casts their vote. We simply need to acknowledge this," he continued.
However, DeSantis also criticized Trump's unsuccessful pledge to construct a wall at the southern border and compel Mexico to bear the cost. DeSantis assured the audience that he would accomplish what Trump could not.
DeSantis later raised concerns about Trump's fundraising numbers, which were released just hours after DeSantis announced his own. According to the Trump campaign, they raised over $45.5 million from July 1 to September 30, compared to the DeSantis campaign's $15 million. Out of the DeSantis funds, only $5 million can be used for the primary, whereas Trump has nearly $36 million specifically allocated for the primary, as stated by his campaign.
The accuracy of those figures cannot be confirmed until the federal election reports are released to the public later this month. However, DeSantis remains confident that the calculations will demonstrate that he is still leading. DeSantis possesses a super PAC that was initially funded with approximately $83 million that remained from his 2022 gubernatorial campaign.
Trump has persistently utilized his legal issues to motivate his supporters to contribute donations. DeSantis, on the other hand, urged people to examine how Trump is utilizing those contributions.
"Why is he raising that money? And wheres that money going to?" DeSantis said. "Isnt it going to a lot of lawyers?"
