News: POLITICO Florida Playbook: Trump still No. 1 for GOP faithful. DeSantis is No. 2

Monday, February 28, 2022

POLITICO Florida Playbook: Trump still No. 1 for GOP faithful. DeSantis is No. 2

Feb 28, 2022

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Hello and welcome to Monday.

Florida man v. Florida man — Well, if there were any doubts, the top takeaway from the four-day Conservative Political Action Conference held in Orlando is that former President Donald Trump — now a Florida man — remains at the top of the heap of the Republican political world. And another Florida man — Gov. Ron DeSantis — is the one to watch should Trump stumble or forego another White House run.

The winner — Trump crushed all other Republicans the a CPAC straw poll of attendees with 59 percent. DeSantis was a distant second at 28 percent with a long line of others, including Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, barely registering. But DeSantis is the clear 2024 favorite if Trump is out of the picture. Sixty-one percent backed DeSantis in a GOP primary without the former president. All other would-be contenders only got into the single digits.

The path not taken — Trump certainly sounded, however, like someone who is gearing up to run a third time — which brings all sort of uncomfortable questions for those in Trump world and DeSantis land to figure out. DeSantis has moved more and more to the right in the past two years that appeared designed for an eventual presidential run. Now that appears blocked.

What's next? — The Trump-DeSantis dynamic remains one to watch closely. DeSantis brushes aside any talk of a 2024 run, but will he make it absolutely clear that he won't run if Trump does?

Still waiting — And lastly, let's just throw this out there: Trump has made more than100 endorsements up and down the ballot across the country, including support for Senate President Wilton Simpson in his run for agriculture commissioner. You know who he still hasn't endorsed? DeSantis. Earlier this month, Trump endorsed South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's reelection. Sure, maybe it means nothing. Or maybe it means something.

— WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. DeSantis.

Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com

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CAMPAIGN MODE

THE HEADLINER — "At CPAC, Trump delivers a reminder of his muscle," by POLITICO's Meredith McGraw: For all the chatter that Trump's influence over the Republican Party is growing weaker, that others in the GOP tent are feeling more emboldened to break with him, there were few signs of it here. Inside the confines of CPAC — a conference that provides a pulse read for the conservative movement — there was little sense that the former president was anything other than the center of attention. The cavernous ballroom was, for the first time all weekend, completely full when Trump took the stage to roaring cheers on Saturday night.

Sounds like he's running — "We did it twice, and we'll do it again. We're going to be doing it again a third time," Trump said to cheers. Partway through his speech, the crowd erupted into cheers of "Four more years!"

— " Donald Trump wins CPAC straw poll," by POLITICO's Meredith McGraw and Natalie Allison

TIMING IS EVERYTHING — " Republicans 2024 advice to DeSantis: Wait your turn," by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: Republican insiders, party activists and GOP establishment figures heaped praise on the Florida governor in interviews this week at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando and across the country. They love his combativeness with the Biden administration, resistance to Covid-19 mandates and fights against culture war issues like critical race theory. But they concede that if DeSantis jumps into the 2024 presidential contest — as some close to the governor believe he will do — he will be crushed by Trump, should the former president run again.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

Former President Donald Trump, speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) | John Raoux/AP Photo

WHERE THE ACTION IS — "How Orlando became the center of the universe for GOP Senate hopefuls ," by POLITICO's Natalie Allison: Yet Mehmet Oz could be found in Florida this weekend along with more than a dozen other Republican Senate hopefuls, aiming to make an impression at the Conservative Political Action Conference. In fact, he was slated to be here twice: He flew in Friday for an event, hopped on a 6 a.m. flight Saturday to make it back home for campaign stops, and then was scheduled to return here Sunday to take part in a panel discussion with other conservative doctors.

SIDESTEP — "GOP senator dodges question over whether Trump should condemn Putin," by The Hill's Caroline Vakil: "In a brief interview with CBS News's Robert Costa at the Conservative Political Action Conference, [Sen. Rick] Scott was asked if [former President Donald] Trump, who is scheduled to speak later Saturday, should condemn Putin. 'Well, clearly, we all ought to be condemning what's going on in Ukraine. I mean, Putin is a thug. We need to hold him accountable. I hope the Biden administration, hope everybody, you know, holds — does everything they can to hold the Biden administration —' Scott said before Costa interjected to ask if that included Trump."

— "Rick Scott responds to GOP criticism of his 11-point plan without talking about tax hike," by Sarasota Herald-Tribune's Zac Anderson

— " At CPAC, Ukraine takes a back seat to the culture wars," by POLITICO's David Siders

— " Rubio invokes Ukraine to say Americans also risk losing freedoms, points to cancel culture," by Sarasota Herald-Tribune's Zac Anderson

THE HEIR — "As GOP looks ahead to 2024, DeSantis builds national profile ," by Washington Post's Tim Craig, Josh Dawsey and Isaac Stanley-Becker: "One person who has worked closely with him in Florida described the Harvard-educated attorney as "incredibly aloof" while a donor who met him recently called him "painfully awkward," speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe a private interaction. [Gov. Ron] DeSantis is 'about as un-charming as it gets one-on-one,' said another person who has interacted with him, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly about the Florida governor. 'There's a lot of hand talk. No ability or seeming desire to relate. It's difficult to have a conversation with him. He gives you kind of these dead stares. But when he's on stage, it's a totally different story.'"

TADDEO TIME — "Why Miami-Dade and Latinos will determine Florida," by POLITICO's Sabrina Rodriquez: Still, Annette Taddeo is convinced she can create a winning coalition and energize the Democratic base — especially if she gets to run alongside Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.), who is running to unseat GOP Sen. Marco Rubio. "We've never tried an African American woman at the top of the ticket running for Senate with a Latina running for governor," she points out. "That's something Democrats have never tried."

PIVOT — Rep. Charlie Crist, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in the governor's race, is releasing a nearly 4-minute campaign video that "outlines his vision after COVID crisis." In the video, Crist says it's "time to get back to normal" but at the same time raps Gov. Ron DeSantis as someone who embraced those opposed to vaccines and says more should be done to make sure that seniors take booster shots. The DeSantis campaign will likely push back that the governor has already been working to return the state to normal. Crist also hits DeSantis over schools and his backing of a state House plan to strip $200 million in funding from districts that adopted mask mandates. In one part of his message Crist says that DeSantis's "presidential ambitions" have resulted in school closures and disruptions. DeSantis, however, pushed to reopen brick-and-mortar schools in the fall of 2020.

HMM — "'That is fraud.' GOP registered more than 100 voters as Republicans without their consent ," by Miami Herald's Bianca Padro Ocasio, Ana Claudia Chacin, Sarah Blaskey, Rosmery Izaguirre, Ben Conarck, Nicholas Nehamas and Joey Flechas: "A team of reporters visited eight locations where voter registration data showed unusually high numbers of voters switching from one party to another last year. The reporters knocked on every door where someone's party affiliation had changed. Four out of every five voters who spoke to the Herald — 141 in total — said that their party affiliation had been changed without their knowledge. In all but six cases, records show they were registered as Republicans by canvassers from the Republican Party of Florida. (Four of the others had recently moved and their registrations were sent through the DMV. And the remaining two were registered as Republicans, but by Democratic Party canvassers, records show.)"

DEMINGS AD SLAMS SCOTT AND RUBIO — Rep. Val Demings is launching a digital ad on Monday that goes after Sen. Marco Rubio and Sen. Rick Scott over Scott's new Rescue America plan. The ad that will be featured on Facebook faults Rubio because he has not criticized a portion of Scott's plan that suggested raising taxes on low-income Americans. "Marco Rubio's party boss is planning to hike taxes on Florida's working families, seniors, and veterans with the Rubio-Scott Tax Hike, and Rubio is too cowardly to reject the politicians and special interests that tell him what to do," said Christian Slater, a spokesperson for the Demings campaign. The campaign said spot is part of an "ongoing, six-figure digital ad buy."

GOING ON OFFENSE— We Are Más, a firm led by Democratic strategist Evelyn Pérez Verdía, has rolled out a website designed to tout its work battling election disinformation that became a prominent feature in the 2022 elections, especially on Spanish-language media in South Florida. "We don't want any more meetings to talk about disinformation," said Pérez Verdía. "What we need urgently is a plan (which we already have) to combat these psychological manipulations."

— "Orlando Marriott hosts a white nationalist conference with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene," by Orlando Sentinel's Steven Lemongello

— " Republicans open Black center in Jacksonville as part of national outreach to minority voters," by Florida Times-Union's Steve Patterson

— "Democrat Adam Christensen ends brief campaign for Ag commissioner – he's too young ," by Florida Politics' Scott Powers

HAPPENING TODAY: A WOMEN RULE INTERVIEW: Join Cecilia Rouse, chair of the Council of Economic Advisors, and Morning Money author Kate Davidson for a conversation exploring President Biden's economic agenda, the administration's plans to tackle financial losses women suffered during the pandemic and what it will take to elevate more women to leadership ranks in the U.S. economy. SUBSCRIBE HERE.

MAPMAKER, MAPMAKER

GETTING MESSY — "Florida GOP splits amid DeSantis' push to upend redistricting," by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: With time running out, the push by Florida Republicans to draw up a new congressional map is turning increasingly fractious as some GOP members are siding with Gov. Ron DeSantis against their own legislative leaders. Florida lawmakers have just two weeks to wrap up work for their annual session, and it's unclear right now if Republicans can pull together a final product — or at least one that will survive a potential veto by DeSantis.

Math getting harder — The main House panel handling redistricting on Friday advanced a new map that gives Republicans an additional two seats. The map also dismantles the North Florida congressional seat now held by Rep. Al Lawson, a Black Democrat from Tallahassee. But the 15-9 vote came with two Republicans voting no along with Democrats and after acrimonious debate.

This part is kind of important — But the changes don't appear to be enough to win DeSantis' approval either. "They've made bizarre and confusing changes that don't seem to remedy the underlying legal concerns," said Taryn Fenske, a spokeswoman for DeSantis.

RUSSIA-UKRAINE

HELP REQUESTED— "Former top immigration officials from Miami ask Biden to grant protections to Ukrainians in U.S.," by Miami Herald's Syra Ortiz-Blanes: "Two former top U.S. immigration officials from Miami urged President Joe Biden on Sunday to extend immigration protections to eligible Ukrainians in the United States, following the Russian military invasion of the eastern European nation. Emilio T. González, the head U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services under former President George W. Bush, and Leon Rodriguez, who headed the agency under former President Barack Obama, asked Biden in a one-page letter to give Ukrainian nationals in the U.S. Temporary Protection Status."

'WE CAN'T SING HAPPY SONGS'— "At this year's Apopka Ukrainian Festival emotions ran high as war rages on," by Orlando Sentinel's Natalia Jaramillo: "The Apopka Ukrainian Festival is usually an annual celebration of the country's independence. But with war raging on after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the festival was instead filled with passionate speeches and songs asking the U.S. to help country battle the Russians. The Elegy Studio Chicago flew in Thursday ready to sing happy Ukrainian songs until at the last minute the academy changed the songs to reflect the war that happened. They flew their crew of 12 Ukrainian-American children to sing for the first time at the festival."

— " Charlie Crist to Ron DeSantis: Light the Sunshine Skyway blue and yellow for Ukraine," by Florida Politics' Renzo Downey

— " DeSantis should put political calculations aside and show empathy for Ukraine," by The Capitolist's Brian Burgess

DATELINE D.C.

THE NOMINEE — "'He loved every minute of this' — How Biden decided on Ketanji Brown Jackson ," by POLITICO's Laura Barrón-López and Christopher Cadelago: As President Biden considered a handful of Black women for the Supreme Court, two things drew him to U.S. Circuit Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, according to those familiar with his decision making process. Jackson was molded by her predecessor, the retiring Justice Stephen Breyer; and, like Biden, she came with a rounded resume bolstered by her work as a public defender. Those traits ultimately convinced the president to nominate Jackson on Friday, making her the first Black female Supreme Court nominee in the nation's history.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. | AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

— "Supreme Court prospect Brown Jackson was a 'star in the making' at Miami's Palmetto High," by Miami Herald's Aaron Leibowitz, Jay Weaver and McClatchy D.C.'s Bryan Lowry

— "How a high school debate team shaped Ketanji Brown Jackson," by The New York Times' Patricia Mazzei

SUBSCRIBE TO NATIONAL SECURITY DAILY : Keep up with the latest critical developments from Ukraine and across Europe in our daily newsletter, National Security Daily. The Russian invasion of Ukraine could disrupt the established world order and result in a refugee crisis, increased cyberattacks, rising energy costs and additional disruption to global supply chains. Go inside the top national security and foreign-policymaking shops for insight on the global threats faced by the U.S. and its allies and what actions world leaders are taking to address them. Subscribe today.

THE GUNSHINE STATE

VERDICT — "After acquittal, Curtis Reeves renews freedom; Chad Oulson's widow grieves anew," by Tampa Bay Times' Dan Sullivan and Michaela Mulligan: "It was an outcome that to some may have seemed unlikely just weeks ago when [Curtis] Reeves remained accused of shooting Chad Oulson in a darkened Wesley Chapel movie theater. A second-degree murder charge, and a deluge of public interest, had loomed over the retired Tampa police captain for nearly a decade. Through it all, though, Reeves remained confident that he ultimately would be cleared, that a jury of his fellow citizens would understand his claim of self-defense."

— " How George Zimmerman stretched 15 minutes of infamy into a decade of distrust," by Washington Post's Timothy Bella

— " Trayvon Martin's mother: 'Don't give up' fight for justice," by The Associated Press

PENINSULA AND BEYOND

SUGAR SUGAR — "Sugarcane burning lawsuit dropped by Florida residents," by The Associated Press: "A lawsuit claiming that the sugar industry's controlled crop burns are dangerous to nearby residents in Florida was dropped on Friday. Attorneys for several of Florida's largest sugar companies and attorneys for a dozen residents from Glades, Hendry and Palm Beach counties agreed in West Palm Beach federal court that the case should be dismissed with prejudice and each side should pay their own attorney fees, according to court records. The class-action lawsuit was filed in June 2019, claiming the burns reduce property values and compromise air quality with toxic carcinogens."

— "These South Florida ZIP codes have seen home values rise as much as 320% in the past 20 years," by Sun Sentinel's Amber Randall

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