An independent effort to draft Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis into the 2024 presidential race has reached 200,000 supporters.
“Ready for Ron” told Secrets that it has experienced consistent support in its petition drive from voters eager to have the conservative governor and social warrior in the presidential race.
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Over the last nine months, the group has used media reports, paid advertising, and a YouTube campaign to draw attention to its petition, and it has noted that as it has succeeded, DeSantis has done better in 2024 polls.
“Americans are ready for Ron DeSantis,” said Ed Rollins, the group’s political strategist. “If he continues to govern as a bold conservative and enact pro-freedom policies, he will be poised to run for the Republican nomination and become the man to beat Joe Biden in 2024.”
Key supporters of the governor expect him to jump into the race this year, possibly by May. He is considered former President Donald Trump’s chief rival. The two dominate the 2024 GOP primary polling and often trade the lead.
While the group has no ties to DeSantis, Ready for Ron has run afoul of the Federal Election Commission, which appears set against letting the group share its 200,000 contacts with DeSantis, even though no money is involved. The two sides expect to face off at a commission hearing later this month.
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Ready for Ron’s counsel and veteran political lawyer Dan Backer said, “Millions of Americans want Ron DeSantis to run. Nearly a quarter-million people have already publicly engaged with and joined the effort. Signing the petition is the ultimate act of political free speech and association, and there is simply no basis for the FEC to stand in the way of Americans telling someone they want him to run for office, or that they continue to support him doing so. We’re going to fight to protect our right to Free Speech and Free Association to draft DeSantis to seek the presidency, and we’re going to win.”
