Florida Governor Ron DeSantis launched his 2024 presidential campaign on Wednesday (24) with a strong speech, but a disastrous announcement on Twitter that did little to quell criticism that the 44-year-old Republican may not be quite ready to face former President Donald Trump.
The unusual decision by DeSantis to announce his campaign in an online conversation with Twitter CEO Elon Musk did not go very well. The audio of the conversation repeatedly froze, making it nearly impossible for most users to hear the new presidential candidate in real time.
“The American decline is not inevitable – it is a choice. And we must choose a new direction – a path that will lead to American revitalization,” DeSantis said during the glitchy stream, highlighting his achievements. “I am running for the presidency of the United States to lead our great American comeback.”
Although his critics from both parties have relished the rocky start, DeSantis’s announcement marks a new chapter in his extraordinary rise from a little-known congressman to a two-term governor, becoming a prominent figure in the country’s bitter struggles over issues related to race, gender, abortion, among others.
But DeSantis’s path to the Republican presidential nomination will not be easy.
He enters the race with former President Trump in first place in early polling, while facing serious questions about his far-right policies and his lack of relationships within the Republican Party. However, he sparks significant interest among Republican primary voters by presenting himself as a younger and more electable version than the 76-year-old former president.
The Republican candidate is expected to face Democratic President Joe Biden in the general election in November 2024.
DeSantis joins a group of candidates that includes former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, and biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Former Vice President Mike Pence is also considered a likely presidential candidate but has not yet announced a run.
Source: AP News