Recent polls indicate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis trails his likely opponent in 2024, former President Donald Trump. Monday, during a trip to Japan, DeSantis told reporters he is not a candidate, but his plans may change in the future.
"I'm not a candidate, so we'll see if and when that changes," Gov. DeSantis, who is in Japan right now, says when asked about polls that show him falling behind Trump. pic.twitter.com/nDVeyBoVHN
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) April 24, 2023
Polls and Reasons
The indictment of Trump last month appears to have contributed to his significant lead over DeSantis in most polls.
On March 31, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average, Trump had a 45.9% to 30.1% advantage. The gap between the two now stands at 52.4% to 23.4%.
During this time, DeSantis was involved in a number of issues, including the fallout from his March characterization of the battle in Ukraine as a “territorial dispute” and a conflict with Disney over the reorganization of the company’s Florida central district.
Despite difficulties, DeSantis remains Trump’s most formidable opponent in the potential GOP field. As he looks at running for president in 2024, he has toured the country, involving early primary states like Iowa and New Hampshire.
International Trade Mission
DeSantis is on an “international trade mission” for Enterprise Florida to bolster the state’s economic ties overseas.
Nevertheless, the 2024 presidential election remains a topic of conversation throughout the trip, which includes visits to Japan, Seoul, South Korea, Israel, and the United Kingdom.
Florida is covered in soaked furniture and trash, red tide and guns but here is DESANTIS IN JAPAN USING YOUR TAX DOLLARS ON A LUXURY TRIP. WHY??? pic.twitter.com/QGAJO1GOQ9
— LuLu boom boom Roche (@LuLuRoche) April 24, 2023
During his Monday visit to Japan, DeSantis met with Fumio Kishida, the prime minister, to discuss national security issues, including the situation with North Korea and China. Additionally, he promoted his home state, Florida.
DeSantis has indicated he will declare his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election after the Florida legislature adjourns at the end of May.
If the Florida governor does decide to enter the 2024 presidential election, it remains to be seen if he’ll see major polling advantages over Trump. Right now, DeSantis has not yet announced, despite much speculation that he will eventually enter the race.
This article appeared in The Political Globe and has been published here with permission.
