They are two relatively young and very high-profile major state governors who have the ability to command national attention and fire up the bases of their respective political parties. California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis are back in the spotlight this weekend, fueling more speculation about their 2024 intentions. DeSantis, whose popularity has soared among conservatives in Florida and across the country over the past two and a half years thanks to his strong push against coronavirus restrictions and his aggressive actions as a warrior in the culture wars, sparked a new controversy earlier this week by throwing Venezuelan Immigrants into the progressive bastion of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. While sparking anger among Democrats, the calculated move highlighted the combustible issue of illegal immigration and border security, which ignites the GOP base but also connects with independent voters who may be disillusioned with the Biden administration’s efforts to manage the increase in border crossings. USA for the last year and a half. GAVIN NEWSOM CHALLENGED RON DESANTIS TO A DEBATE File photo of California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom (left) and Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis (right) (Getty) Newsom, who has asked the Justice Department to investigate both DeSantis and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas — who has transported immigrants to progressive cities like New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C. — accuses conservative governors of using immigrants as “political pawns. “ On Friday, Newsom challenged DeSantis to a debate, which sparked a Twitter war of words between the Newsom and DeSantis camps. Newsom has been as crafty in recent months as DeSantis in capturing the nation’s attention, trolling both the Florida governor and Abbott with ads in their home states. And last week, Newsom grabbed the spotlight once again by posting billboards in several red states where abortion is now restricted, touting California as a haven for legalized abortion. The move further strengthened his push as an advocate for reproductive rights, a top issue with many in his party’s base after the move in June by the Supreme Court’s conservative majority to end the landmark abortion decision Roe v. Wade. COMMANDER FLIES IMMIGRANTS TO MARTHA’S VINEYARD While the 2024 presidential election could end up being a rematch of the 2020 showdown between President Biden and former President Trump if the two 70-year-olds don’t end up running, DeSantis, Newsom and others in the next generation are using creative ways to raise their national profile. “Traditionally, in the run-up to midterm elections, political eyes turn to the early swing states of Iowa and New Hampshire for signs of presidential candidate activity. These are races that stat their potential candidacies,” noted veteran political scientist Wayne Lesperance. “Both Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis have taken to the national airwaves with their political brands on the issue of immigration. It’s smart and, perhaps most importantly, it’s free airtime designed to appeal to their grass roots. their parties. And, it’s working,” added Lesperance, who is vice president for academic affairs at New Hampshire-based New England College. “The nationalization of our presidential process has begun. Newsom and DeSantis are first. Others will follow.”
Are DeSantis’ 2022 trips ‘setting the stage’ for 2024?
As he runs for re-election in November, DeSantis is back on the campaign trail Sunday — out of Florida. DeSantis will be in Kansas and Wisconsin, leading rallies for those states’ GOP gubernatorial candidates – Derek Schmidt and Tim Michels – organized by the conservative group Turning Point Action.
“Governor DeSantis is America’s Governor and one of the most popular leaders in the country. He has become a role model for a new conservative movement that is willing to stand on principle and really fight on behalf of the values of its constituents,” Inflection Point Action founder and chairman Charlie Kirk said in a statement.
The swing follows a similar situation last month, when DeSantis traveled to Arizona to campaign with gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and Senate candidate Blake Masters, to Pennsylvania to stick with gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano and to Ohio to to partner with Senate candidate JD Vance. Lake, Masters, Mastriano, Vance, Schmidt and Michels all won their Republican nominations thanks in part to Trump’s critical endorsements.
IF TRUMP ENDORSED THE CANDIDATES LOSE IN NOVEMBER, IS IT 2024?
DeSantis’ travels are certainly being noticed by the former president.
“Trump blew a gasket” when de Sandys teamed up with Lake, a source in the former president’s political orbit told Fox News. And the partnership between DeSantis and Kirk — who is a Trump ally and very close to Donald Trump Jr. – also “doesn’t go unnoticed,” the source added.
While in the Badger State on Sunday, DeSantis is also expected to meet with Wisconsin-based billionaire businesswoman and mega GOP donor Diane Hendricks, according to a veteran GOP adviser who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely.
“We’re not going to help other candidates, we’re going to help Ron DeSantis,” the adviser said. “All of this Ron is laying the groundwork” for 2024.
DeSantis’ political team declined to confirm or deny the governor’s meeting with Hendricks.
Former President Donald Trump welcomes JD Vance, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Ohio, to the stage at a campaign rally in Youngstown, Ohio, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar) (AP )
Trump was also on the trail this weekend, holding a large rally in Ohio on behalf of Vance.
Pompeo previews 2024 team
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo returns this week to New Hampshire, the state that in a century held the first primary in the race for the White House. Pompeo on Tuesday will headline the New Hampshire Institute of Politics’ latest edition of “Politics and Eggs.” The lecture series at the College of St. Anselm, just west of Manchester, has been a must-stop for nearly a quarter century for actual and potential White House candidates of both major parties. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attends the Lincoln-Reagan GOP’s Hillsborough County, New Hampshire annual fundraising dinner in Manchester, NH on April 7, 2022. (Fox News ) The West Point graduate and tank and Calvary officer stationed in West Germany during the Cold War, who was later elected to Congress from Kansas before serving as CIA director and America’s top diplomat in former President Trump’s administration, has also many stops in the past year. one half in Iowa, South Carolina and Nevada, the other three early voting states on the Republican presidential nominating calendar. Pompeo, a Fox News contributor, has repeatedly said he will make a decision in 2024 after the midterm elections in November. But last week, speaking at the Navy Seal Foundation Midwest Evening of Tribute in Chicago, Pompeo revealed more about his potential run to the White House. “We have a team in Iowa, a team in New Hampshire and South Carolina. And that’s not a fluke. We’re doing the things that anybody would do to get ready,” Pompeo shared. And taking a friendly jab at his former boss, Pompeo joked that “unlike others, if I go down an escalator, no one will notice.” Pompeo was referring to Trump’s famous escalator ride at Trump Tower in New York in 2015 as he announced his candidacy for the White House.
Pence stops in New Hampshire to reinforce the quarterback
Former Vice President Mike Pence returned to New Hampshire Wednesday afternoon to spearhead a fundraiser for former Lt. Gen. Don Bolduc, who just hours earlier narrowly won the Republican Senate nomination in the key general battleground state. PENCE’S 2022 MISSION TO NEW HAMPSHIRE Bolduc will face former governor and first-time Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan in the November midterm elections in a Senate race that could determine whether the GOP regains the House majority. Former Vice President Mike Pence headlines a fundraiser for New Hampshire Republican Senate candidate Don Bolduc on September 14, 2022 in Wilton, NH (Fox News) “Now is the time to come together and come together as a party in New Hampshire, come together as a party across this country and do what needs to be done. And I’m here to tell you that I know we will.” Pence made the point as he spoke at the conclusion of a just-concluded 2022 primary season that has seen several tumultuous battles for the Republican nomination. The trip by Pence, who appears to be moving toward launching a 2024 presidential campaign, was his second this summer and fifth in the past year and a half to New Hampshire. During his last visit to the Granite State, it was titled “Politics and Eggs.” And two days after his August stop in New Hampshire, Pence made a busy two-day jaunt to Iowa, whose caucuses have driven off the presidential nominating calendar for half a century. The former vice president’s itinerary included another must-see stop for White House hopefuls: a visit to the Iowa State Fair.
Hogan refers to Reagan in an important international speech
Term-limited Republican Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland also made trips to New Hampshire and Iowa this summer, but last week was far from campaigning. Hogan, who is mulling his own White House bid, was in South Korea, where he gave a keynote speech at the Jeju Forum of Peace and Prosperity, an international summit that includes several heads of state and former Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon . Former President Bill Clinton and late Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev have also previously spoken to the…
