DeSantis won’t like this one!
In a bold move on Sunday, Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) publicly declared his support for former President Trump, effectively overlooking his own state’s governor, Ron DeSantis, as a contender for the 2024 presidential race.
Utilizing X, the platform previously known as Twitter, Rubio launched a scathing critique of the Biden administration’s track record. He argued that Trump’s “extraordinary actions” are indispensable to rectify the perceived disaster the country currently faces.
Rubio reminisced about his accomplishments during Trump’s presidency, citing achievements such as the expansion of the Child Tax Credit and the implementation of robust sanctions on the regimes in Cuba and Venezuela. According to Rubio, these successes were possible because Trump exhibited leadership that resisted special interests and bureaucratic impediments.
The senator firmly expressed his support for Trump, asserting that only such resolute leadership could address the challenges created by the Biden administration. Rubio emphasized the urgency of moving forward with the task of defeating Biden and safeguarding America.
It is noteworthy that Rubio had contested against Trump in the 2016 elections, and their relationship had been marked by occasional contention. Rubio withdrew from the race after losing in the Florida primary.
Rubio’s endorsement aligns him with Florida Senator Rick Scott, who had previously endorsed Trump in November despite initially pledging to remain neutral. Both Florida senators thus prefer Trump over their state’s governor.
In Florida, Trump enjoys a substantial lead over his GOP rivals, including DeSantis. A polling index from The Hill and Decision Desk HQ indicates a significant advantage for Trump with a 42.1 percentage point lead over DeSantis (61 percent to 18.8 percent). The Republican primary in Florida is scheduled for March 19.
Rubio’s endorsement coincided with the eve of the Iowa caucuses. Notably, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, another former contender against Trump in 2024, also endorsed the former president at an Iowa rally just hours before Rubio’s announcement.
Polling aggregations from The Hill and Decision Desk HQ indicate Trump’s dominance in Iowa, holding a 34.9 point lead over his closest rival, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. DeSantis, although trailing behind Haley, expressed confidence ahead of the Iowa caucuses during his appearances on Sunday morning political shows, despite the polls depicting him lagging far behind Trump.