Capital Bureau | USA TODAY NETWORK – FLORIDA
TALLAHASSEE – Struggling to compete with Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is leaning into his on-the-job performance as leader of the nation’s third largest state as a reason GOP voters should turn to him.
The second-term governor, helped by compliant, Republican supermajorities in the state House and Senate, claims a host of culture war successes that remain a dominant theme in his stump speeches across Iowa, the first state to hold a GOP presidential nominating contest.
But Florida's muscular economy, low unemployment and budget surpluses are now emerging as a key part of the sinking governor’s sales pitch to still unconvinced voters.
DeSantis makes Florida sound like Shangri-La.
“I can tell you this, as governor of Florida we cut taxes, we ran surpluses, we’ve paid down over 25% of our state debt, and I vetoed wasteful spending when it came to my desk,” DeSantis said during the second Republican presidential debate in Simi Valley, Ca.
Later, when talking about his overwhelming election victory last November, DeSantis delivered a line that may be the latest rallying cry for a candidacy which once sparkled, but now is fading deeper into Trump’s shadow.
“We delivered... in Florida,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis’ presidential hopes are teetering, with the candidate short on money, falling further back in the polls and relocating staff from Florida to Iowa in pursuit of a do-or-die strong...
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