How DeSantis is spinning his campaign struggles back home

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Oct 06, 2023 View in browser   By Kimberly Leonard Presented by Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis takes a question from one of his supporters at a campaign event Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. | John Raoux/AP Photo Good morning from Tampa and happy Friday.  Gov. Ron DeSantis was back on his home turf yesterday raising money, racking up endorsements and fielding questions from skeptics. DeSantis has struggled to live up to the lofty expectations he faced at the start of the year. DeSantis reorganized his staff several times, laid people off and faced repeated attacks from former President Donald Trump, who continues to poll ahead by double-digits — apparently, even in Florida. With just over three months to go until the Iowa caucus, DeSantis is further refining his pitch for why he should become the nominee instead of Trump. During a campaign stop in Tampa yesterday afternoon, he engaged directly with those who questioned his electability. He portrayed himself as a candidate who does what he promises. He pointed to this record as evidence that he can deliver on “America First” policies while Trump failed to do so. “Every promise I made as governor I've delivered on 100%,” he said. “I'll do the same as president — and not only that, I'm going to deliver on other people’s promises.” He tried to recast Trump as the real loser, someone who “couldn’t even stop Joe Biden” and “energized Democrats” to vote against him. DeSantis, 45, also suggested Trump, 77, was too old for the job and said the former president did worse than he did in Florida during the 2020 presidential election as compared to the 2022 gubernatorial race. “He won by three, I won by 20,” DeSantis said, referring to their margins of victory in the Sunshine state. DeSantis also reminded voters he could serve eight years. If Trump were to be elected, he said, then he’d be a “lame-duck president” because he already served one term. He also addressed questions about fundraising. DeSantis only brought in $5 million during the third quarter that can go toward the general election — a far smaller total than what Trump was able to raise. (The numbers can’t be independently confirmed until filings are made public on Oct. 15.) “Why is he raising that money? And where’s that money going to?” DeSantis asked rhetorically about Trump’s haul. “Isn’t it going to a lot of lawyers?” He insisted his all-in-on-Iowa strategy was correct, and dismissed polling showing him behind. The campaign has said that focusing on the caucus-first state is the best way to narrow the presidential field.“You win it contest by contest. It’s not a national primary,” DeSantis said. It’s of course too soon to say whether the arguments can help DeSantis close the considerable gap between himself and Trump, or even between himself and other rivals who are doing well in some of the early-state contests, including former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. DeSantis isn’t just behind in national polls, but state ones too — and plenty of presidential candidates who’ve won Iowa have lost the presidency. He also didn’t address some of the biggest criticisms about his policy record, one many donors are concerned is too ,conservative for a general election. But his stop shows the governor is taking in a lot of the criticisms and considering his rebuttals. What he’s saying publicly is probably close to the pitch he and his supporters have been making to donors behind closed doors, too. — WHERE'S RON? DeSantis will appear on CNBC’s Squawk Box at 8 a.m. EST. He’ll be in Iowa through Monday appearing at events with Never Back Down. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com PROGRAMMING NOTE: Playbook will be off this Monday for Indigenous Peoples Day but will be back in your inboxes on Tuesday, Oct. 10.   A message from Amazon: Amazon is committed to making a positive impact in the communities where they operate by providing employment opportunities that include benefits starting day one and paths for growth through free, on-the-job skills training and pre-paid tuition programs. “At Amazon, there is room to grow, you aren’t stuck in one place,” said Nate, who started as an associate in a fulfillment center and is now an area manager in Gainesville. Learn about growth opportunities.   ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... NEXT WEEK — Senate interim committee meetings. From developing a new state waste reduction and recycling plan to renaming State Road A1A Jimmy Buffett Highway, take a look here at the Senate bills filed so far for the next session. ALSO ON TAP NEXT WEEK — Rep. Matt Gaetz will appear with Trump at a Club 47 USA event at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach. Both men are set to speak. MEDICAID BAN — Groups say Florida is still barring gender-affirming treatments despite federal court order, by POLITICO’s Arek Sarkissian: Lawyers from a coalition of transgender rights groups filed a motion Wednesday in Tallahassee federal court asking Judge Robert Hinkle to enforce a June temporary injunction he ordered. The motion argues the state Agency for Health Care Administration issued at least $25,000 in fines to five Medicaid providers and denied coverage for beneficiaries two months after Hinkle’s order. MOVING OFF CITIZENS — “State approves private insurers to take 153,000 more homeowner policies from Citizens,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders: “Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky signed six orders giving the go-ahead to the private insurers to make offers to Citizens customers and assume their homeowner insurance policies from Citizens on Dec. 19.” 2A — “Medical marijuana users challenge federal gun ban at US appeals court,” by Reuters’ Nate Raymond: “A U.S. appeals court on Thursday appeared divided over whether medical marijuana users can be barred from owning guns, in a case challenging the same federal law prohibiting users of unlawful drugs from owning guns at issue in Hunter Biden's criminal case. A group of Florida residents who use medical marijuana urged a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at oral arguments to find that the federal ban was unconstitutional as applied to them.” — “A 69-year-old Floridian thought she was eligible to vote. Then police came knocking at 3 a.m.,” by USA Today Network-Florida’s Douglas Soule PENINSULA AND BEYOND EMAILS REVIEWED — “Mayor Suarez praised Ken Griffin’s controversial plan. Billionaire’s aide wrote the quote,” by the Miami Herald’s Sarah Blaskey and Tess Riski: “The striking level of access and political influence enjoyed by Florida’s wealthiest man was revealed in a cache of emails obtained by the Herald through a public records request, seeking interactions referencing Griffin or his investment firm Citadel. The emails reveal months of chummy communications and coordinated media messaging between the mayor’s office and the firm that was moving its headquarters to Miami.” NEVERMIND — “GRU Authority board member resigns after residency requirements questioned,” by the Gainesville Sun’s Andrew Caplan: “One of the first board members of the Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority has stepped down after just a day earlier being appointed by DeSantis. Dermatologist Tara Ezzell, who didn't attend the first GRU Authority meeting Wednesday and wasn't officially sworn in, will no longer join the board, The Gainesville Sun has confirmed with the governor's office … The Sun first reported that Dr. Ezzell was the fourth non-city resident appointed to the board and that her electric provider was Clay Electric, putting her at odds with two requirements to be on the board.”   Sponsored Survey WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU: Share what you think in a short, 1 minute survey about one of our advertisers   TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP OVER BUT MAYBE NOT OUT — Trump drops suit against former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein: A conflict loomed between the litigation and Trump’s campaign to win back the White House. A federal magistrate judge had ordered Trump to sit for a deposition in the case starting Monday morning in New York. Earlier this week, however, the former president scheduled a campaign rally in New Hampshire for Monday at noon. Trump aides and lawyers rebuffed questions about the conflicting demands over the past couple of days. The one-line filing offered no explanation but said the termination of the suit was “without prejudice,” meaning it could be refiled. REQUEST TO POSTPONE — Trump’s lawyers again requested that the Mar-a-Lago classified documents trial, set for May 2024 in Fort Piece, Fla., be delayed until after the 2024 election, according to a new filing.   DATELINE D.C. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) speaks with reporters at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 4, 2023. | Francis Chung/POLITICO FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Florida’s Republican delegation is planning to meet Tuesday to hear from U.S. speaker candidates. As of now, however, picking a speaker could be a secondary concern given that some Republican members of the delegation, including Rep. Carlos Gimenez, would rather first change the rules that cost former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy his leadership job, known as the motion to vacate. “The next speaker can’t have this hanging over their head. It's the recipe for chaos,” Gimenez said. “We’ve tasted chaos and I don't like it.” Gaetz, who led the motion to vacate that eventually ousted McCarthy, suggested on X that he may even be interested in supporting the rule change under certain circumstances. The Main Street Caucus — which includes Florida Reps. Aaron Bean, Mario Diaz-Balart, Laurel Lee, John Rutherford, as well as Gimenez — met with Rep. Jim Jordan, one candidate for speaker, yesterday. Jordan also received Trump's endorsement. And according to Gimenez, Jordan could be the one to make the commitment he’s looking for. Jordan previously stated he would support the conference if they wanted to change the rule. “[Jordan] might be the one that can pull that off,” Gimenez said. “I thought he did a very good job in front of Main Street.” — Mia McCarthy   A message from Amazon:   An aerial view of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla. | AP MEANWHILE, FROM THE DEMOCRATS — Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) wrote a letter to the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser on Thursday asking for an increase in property taxes for Mar-a-Lago, given that Trump and his allies think it has a higher value than its $18 million to $28 million appraisal. A New York judge used the appraisal value to conclude that the former president exaggerated his net worth. “Mar-a-Lago was listed as worth $490 million in financial documents given to banks,” Moskowitz wrote in the letter. “If the property value of Mar-a-Lago is so much higher than it was appraised, will you be amending the property value in line with the Trump family’s belief that the property is worth well over a billion dollars?” — Mia McCarthy ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN BIRTHDAYS: Former State Sen. Kevin Rader … Joe Follick, state communications director for the Foundation for Excellence in Education ... Jon Ausman, former Leon County DEC chairman ... Former Florida House Speaker Allan Bense … (Saturday)  Jim Rosica, editor-in-chief of City & State Florida ... Allen Douglas, executive director Florida Engineering Society … (Sunday) Former state Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen … Vivian Myrtetus, partner at Converge Public Strategies ... Curtis Richardson, Tallahassee city commissioner and former state representative   A message from Amazon: Since joining Amazon in an entry level role, Nate has been promoted multiple times and is now an area manager at a delivery station in Gainesville. Nate serves as an Amazonian ambassador to his local community “so that people know that you can build a career here.” Learn how Amazon supports employees.     Follow us on Twitter Kimberly Leonard @leonardkl   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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