News: POLITICO Florida Playbook: DeSantis' national spotlight grows brighter

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

POLITICO Florida Playbook: DeSantis' national spotlight grows brighter

Jun 21, 2022

Hello and welcome to Tuesday.

Cue the lights — Well, here comes Gov. Ron DeSantis' close-up. In the last two years, the Florida Republican has seen his profile rise meteorically with the GOP due to his moves on the Covid-19 pandemic and battles over critical race theory, LGBTQ issues, immigration and other conservative flashpoints.

Here it comes — National news organizations are starting to drop profiles on the governor with two coming out on Monday and likely more to follow in the near term. DeSantis was name-dropped by Bill Maher on Friday, who said DeSantis would be a better president than former President Donald Trump. Piers Morgan penned a column stating that Republicans should "dump the Donald and run with the Ronald."

Not a campaign strategy — DeSantis — who has built part of his brand with a steady stream of sharply criticizing what he calls the "corporate media" — has largely kept his distance and not cooperated with a lot of the coverage. He has instead focused much of his energy on doing interviews and appearances on conservative outlets more receptive to his message. And the more the national media obsesses on DeSantis, the more he will able to use it to motivate his base.

What happens next? — So will this be a flavor of the month situation where those parachuting into Florida will do drive-by stories and then move on to something else? Or is this just the prelude to an ever-increasing amount of attention for Florida's governor? The interest in DeSantis had been steadily rising — especially as the palace intrigue of a potential DeSantis v. Trump feud gets whispered about — with national outlets following nearly every one of the governor's press conferences and then coming out with provocative headlines (and sometimes very little news) designed to drive web traffic.

Not going away — The attention, however, is likely to continue for some time unless DeSantis flatly says he's not running for president — or won't run even if Trump doesn't. There will likely be a lot of dissection on whether he's "Trump with a brain" or "Trump 2.0."

The agenda — For reporters who have followed DeSantis closely of course the picture is a bit more complicated, although some of that nuance did come out in one of the new profiles. As he heads into a reelection, however, the question just isn't what makes DeSantis tick. The question is what policies will he pursue during a second term when his power continues to increase. That will be the best clue about 2024 and the one much more important to the voters of Florida.

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

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CAMPAIGN MODE

THE HEIR — "Can Ron DeSantis displace Donald Trump as the GOP's combatant-in-chief?" by The New Yorker's Dexter Filkins: "[Gov. Ron] DeSantis faces reelection later this year, but his ascent has been so dramatic that in a few polls he comes out ahead of [former President Donald] Trump in the race for the Republican Presidential nomination; without Trump, he commands a big lead. Both men claim to channel the rage of an electorate that feels sneered at and dismissed by liberal institutions. But while Trump, with his lazy, Barnumesque persona, projects a fundamental lack of seriousness, DeSantis has an intense work ethic, a formidable intelligence, and a granular understanding of policy. Articulate and fast on his feet, he has been described as Trump with a brain."

The view from Mar-a-Lago — "Trump told me that he was 'very close to making a decision' about whether to run. 'I don't know if Ron is running, and I don't ask him,' he said. 'It's his prerogative. I think I would win.' In nearly every poll of likely Republican contenders, Trump still has a solid advantage: DeSantis's constituency was Trump's first. Trump seems to want to keep it that way. A consultant who has worked for several Republican candidates said that the former President had talked with confidants about ways to stop DeSantis: 'Trump World is working overtime to find ways to burn DeSantis down. They really hate him.'"

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference in Miami, on Feb. 1, 2022. | Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo

'HE HAS MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE' — "Floridians give DeSantis points for his Covid stance. Will it hold?" by Washington Post's Tim Craig: "Mark Schaefer is a moderate Republican who voted, reluctantly, for President Donald Trump in 2020. His wife, Deb Schaefer describes herself as a lifelong Democrat who supported President Biden. But when it comes to Florida politics, the couple is united in their excitement over Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. 'We love him,' Deb Schaefer said outside her house in Jacksonville's waterfront Riverside-Avondale Historic District. They know DeSantis, who has blazed a national profile as he seeks reelection this November, isn't perfect. Deb, 52, worries about abortion rights, and Mark, 54, fears he is making Florida less tolerant of his gay and lesbian friends. But they said that probably won't impact their vote for him this fall."

WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET? — DeSantis draws huge cash haul from Trump donors," by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: As Ron DeSantis gears up for a likely 2024 White House bid — with or without Donald Trump in the race — the Florida governor is winning over some of the former president's biggest benefactors. DeSantis has attracted the attention of some of the nation's wealthiest Republican donors, including many who were key financiers of Trump's reelection bid or backers of high profile Republican candidates and causes, according to POLITICO analysis of campaign finance data.

New to Florida — A DeSantis-aligned political committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis, has received $3.4 million this election cycle from 10 donors who collectively spent $24 million on Trump's reelection bid. Most of the high-dollar donors had never given contributions in state-level Florida elections, while those who have previously provided funds have significantly increased their spending for DeSantis during the 2022 midterms.

DEMOCRATS BREAKING THE RULES? — The campaign arm of Florida House Republicans is raising questions about the fundraising efforts of House Democrats, saying it appears that as many as 10 Democrats may have accepted more than $115,000 in donations during regular or special sessions in 2022 or 2021. House rules bar members from either soliciting or accepting donations during these blackout periods. In a statement, the Florida House Republican Campaign Committee suggested that Democrats are either "deliberately breaking the rules, or this is another glaring example of the inept chaos that exists at the Florida Democratic Party." The effort by Republicans to highlight the contributions could wind up sparking formal complaints against Democrats.

Pushing back — House Democrats, however, dispute the assertions, suggesting that Republicans are conflating "clerical errors" with something serious. Many of the donations highlighted by Republicans, they said, came at the start or end of regular and special sessions and reflect when checks were deposited not when they were accepted. "Republicans are shouting fire when there isn't," said Rep. Fentrice Driskell, the incoming leader of House Democrats. "This kind of minor error occurs on both sides of across the aisle quite often."

Weighing in — Two Democrats — Rep. Anna Eskamani and Rep. Michele Rayner — also pushed back on the allegations. Eskamani pointed out she regularly tweets out that she cannot accept money during sessions. She also added that one online fundraising program changes dates when it handles a bulk upload of donations. Eskamani said she has received more than 1,400 donations so far this year and to flag several was "politically motivated and dumb."

GET READY TO RUMBLE — Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Monday that the Republican Party of Florida will hold debates next month among congressional candidates who are challenging each other in four highly competitive GOP primaries. The debates will be held July 23 during the party's Sunshine Summit going on that weekend at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. The governor said conservative radio and television personality Mark Levin has agreed to moderate two of the debates.

Fab 4 — The four districts chosen are Florida's 4th, 7th, 13th and 15th — districts that are either newly created or are open due to a retiring incumbent. The contests have attracted a wide range of candidates, some of whom have lashed out at their Republican opponents.

Threshold — A total of 21 candidates have qualified for the ballot, but the party is establishing minimum criteria in order for candidates to be eligible for the debate. Candidates must either garner at least 5 percent support in a poll that the RPOF will conduct on July 13 or candidates must have reported raising at least $100,000 in contributions by July 13.

CAMPAIGN ROUNDUP — State Sen. Ed Hooper is endorsing Rep. Nick DiCeglie for the open state Senate seat based in Pinellas County. Both are Republicans and Hooper is seeking reelection to a seat that also contains part of Pinellas County. … The Florida Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio for reelection on Friday, marking another law-enforcement organization that is backing the Republican over Rep. Val Demings even though she was once Orlando's police chief. Law-enforcement groups in Florida, however, have a history of regularly backing GOP candidates.

AND WE'RE OFF — "Florida primary will be a scramble to fill US House seats ," by The Associated Press : "With about two months before Florida's primary, the most exciting event to watch outside the Democratic nomination for governor is the mad scramble to fill congressional seats. The departure of four U.S. House members, Florida's acquisition of a new seat in Congress and a redistricting process that has shaken up the state's political maps have combined to create interesting races in the Aug. 23 primaries. Qualifying for Florida's ballot ended Friday, and while there's a competitive primary between U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried for the Democratic nomination to face Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, congressional races will get a lot of attention as Republicans try to regain power in the U.S. House."

— "More than a fourth of the Florida Legislature is elected without opposition for 2022," by The Tampa Bay Times Kirby Wilson and Chris Hippensteel

— "Parental rights, DeSantis talking points line up for some Miami school board candidates," by Miami Herald's Sommer Brugal

— " Florida prepares for heated school board season," by Tampa Bay Times' Jeffrey S. Solochek

— "Poll: Charlie Crist maintains commanding lead over Nikki Fried ," by Florida Politics' Jacob Ogles

— "Ashley Guy ends campaign for HD 9," by Florida Politics' Drew Wilson

... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

ROUND 3 — "Alimony: Allies and foes wage fevered campaigns to have DeSantis sign or veto overhaul," by Florida Phoenix's Laura Cassels: "The years-long battle over whether to overhaul permanent alimony and child-custody laws in Florida reached fever pitch last week when the Florida Senate transmitted Senate Bill 1796 to Gov. Ron DeSantis to approve or veto. SB 1796 would allow more ex-spouses to terminate permanent alimony payments and would create a 50/50 presumption regarding time-sharing of a divorcing couple's children. Proponents and opponents claim to have delivered to DeSantis petitions signed by thousands of people (not necessarily Floridians) asking him to sign or to veto the bill. The Phoenix has requested details about the petitions. DeSantis' predecessor, Rick Scott, vetoed similar legislation in 2013 and again in 2016."

— "Nikki Fried: Gov. DeSantis made 'authoritarian' move to schedule Cabinet move during primary," by Florida Politics' Renzo Downey

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CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

FOR YOUR RADAR — "Congresswoman tells of her 'proudest moment' as COVID-aid contracts draw new attention ," by South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Anthony Man: "As Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick began self-funding her successful 2021 congressional campaign, the company where she was CEO at the time started receiving a new source of income: providing COVID vaccines in underserved communities. Five contracts listed on a state database show Trinity Health Care Services of Miramar was paid almost $8.1 million for its vaccine work. The records don't show how much it cost Trinity to fulfill its obligations under the contracts, and how much was profit for the family-owned company. 'During the pandemic we risked our lives to serve the community,' Cherfilus-McCormick said Friday by email, citing persistent shortages in masks and personal protective equipment at the time."

QUESTION — "Miami has one of the highest U.S. COVID-19 infection rates. Will the virus hurt summer tourism?" by Miami Herald's Anna Jean Kaiser: "But the virus has reemerged in a big way in the area, and could throw a wrench into summer tourism here. Miami-Dade County is experiencing its largest surge of COVID-19 infections, since the omicron variant ripped through the region in January. Yet tourists interviewed last week were undeterred from traveling to South Florida due to greater risk of contracting the pandemic disease. As of June 13, Miami-Dade's coronavirus test positivity rate jumped to 21%, up from 5% in early April, causing alarm for local public health officials and making the area a coronavirus hot spot among top U.S. tourist destinations."

— "Florida's COVID vaccination count drops by 60,000; DeSantis administration won't say why," by Palm Beach Post's Chris Persaud

PENINSULA AND BEYOND

FALLOUT — "Inside one abortion clinic, signs of nationwide struggles," by The New York Times' Gabriela Bhaskar and Abby Goodnough: "The center, in Fort Myers, has seen a steady influx of patients from Texas since last September, when a ban on all but the earliest abortions took effect there, and from other states that have tightened access to the procedure over the past year. It is also adjusting to a waiting period that took effect in Florida in April after years of litigation, requiring patients seeking an abortion to have an ultrasound and then wait at least 24 hours before returning for the actual procedure. And a new state law banning most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, instead of the current 24 weeks, is set to take effect on July 1, although Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers in the state have sued to try to block it."

'THIS SHOULD BE A HUMAN THING' — "Tyre Sampson's father, attorneys say Free Fall ride death being swept 'under the rug,'" by Orlando Sentinel's Abigail Hasebroock: "On Friday, two days before Father's Day, Juneteenth and his birthday, Yarnell Sampson visited the Orlando Free Fall ride in ICON Park. 'I came up here to get my peace,' he said. But he was surprised to find that less than three months after his 14-year-old son Tyre fell to his death from the ride, the flowers, balloons and photographs that once lined the fencing surrounding it were gone, replaced by beer bottles and oblivious passersby. 'I just wanted to know, did the people know that a young man actually died right here?' he said."

— " Surfside victims to be honored at private vigil, public event on collapse anniversary," by Miami Herald's Martin Vassolo

— " New Monkeypox cases found in Central Florida, including in Seminole," by Orlando Sentinel's Caroline Catherman and Martin E. Comas

— "Former City Council candidate subpoenaed over social media posts ," by Tampa Bay Times' Charlie Frago

— "10 years after DACA, Central Florida dreamers still in limbo," by Orlando Sentinel's Kate Santich

— Investor, advocates sue Florida medical marijuana regulator, by POLITICO's Mona Zhang

ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN

WEDDING — Roger Roscoe, who works in public engagement at the Florida Department of Transportation and a Bush 43 advance alum, recently married May Jubran, who has worked at USAA as a claims auto examiner for almost three decades. The couple reconnected after 31 years and met originally in college at a student government convention in Florida. The wedding took place at the Rusty Pelican in Tampa. Pic ... Another pic

BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Linda Chaney … State Rep. Chuck Clemons … former Rep. Jim Bacchus … (Birthday week, was Monday) … Gisselle Reynolds of Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart's (R-Fla.) office