Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis appears to have decided not to speak at this year’s annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), The Floridian reports.
This is in the wake of criticisms levied by President Donald Trump, making his Republican Presidential primary poll numbers drop.
The Floridian’s source said Gov. DeSantis was invited to attend and speak but appears to have a scheduling conflict with the event, which will be held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Maryland from March 1-4.
DeSantis’ appearance at CPAC this year, as the outlet pointed out, may “look as though he is chasing the spotlight. More importantly, it could look as though he is chasing Donald Trump.”
He’s afraid of Trump and Trump supporters now. https://t.co/M2446y0ruO
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) February 20, 2023
Meanwhile, President Trump is expected to speak at CPAC in March, along with appearances by Floridian Reps. Byron Donalds, Kat Cammack, Greg Steube, Matt Gaetz, Senator Rick Scott, and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, the outlet reported.
Nikki Haley, a 2024 presidential aspirant, will also attend the conservative conference.
More details from The Beltway Report:
DeSantis’ reported decision comes as his poll numbers wane with respects to him becoming the Republican nominee for President in the 2024 primary.
According to the latest Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll released by The Hill on Friday, support for DeSantis dropped 5 percentage points, leaving the Florida Governor with only 23 percent support compared to President Trump’s 46 percent.
In a head-to-head matchup against the former president among Republican voters, DeSantis was found trailing by a staggering 12 points after the former president took to his own social media platform accusing the Florida Governor of being a “RINO in disguise!”
“Ron DeSanctimonious wants to cut your Social Security and Medicare, closed up Florida & its beaches, loves RINOS Paul Ryan, Jeb Bush, and Karl Rove (disasters ALL!), is backed by Globalist’s Club for NO Growth, Lincoln Pervert Project, & ‘Uninspired’ Koch — And it only gets worse from there. He is a RINO in disguise!, whose Poll numbers are dropping like a rock. Good luck Ron!” President Trump said.
Reacting to the latest poll which showed himself having a clear lead over DeSantis, President Trump reaffirmed his criticisms and likened the Republican governor to former House Speaker Paul Ryan, former Bush administration advisor Karl Rove, failed Republican 2016 Presidential candidate Jeb Bush, and the Koch brothers.
“’Support for DeSantis cools in latest GOP POLL.’ Washington Times. Of course it cools,” President Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Sunday.
“He wants to cut Social Security and Medicare, loves ‘Throw them over the cliff’ Paul Ryan, who is destroying FoxNews and the WSJ, Piglet Karl Rove, and ‘Jeb.’ Also, Ron DeSanctimonious is for Globalist Club For NO Growth, and Open Borders Charles Koch. We want AMERICA FIRST, NOT AMERICA LAST!!!” President Trump added.
So let me get this straight…
Ron DeSantis can go talk to 60 people in New York City in late February, but he can’t go to CPAC in DC ten days later?
Of course, President Trump will be at CPAC.
And the crowd will be bigger.
Interesting choice here by the governor. https://t.co/oWp6NlLsX0
— Vince Manfeld (@AureliusStoic1) February 20, 2023
Sources: TheBeltwayReport, The Floridian
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