Former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany suggested former President Donald Trump’s lead over his other rivals for the GOP nomination would shrink when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) enters the 2024 White House race.
Appearing on the podcast “America 180 with David Brody” on Friday (May 5), McEnany expressed her expectations that the Republican nominating process will be “defined” by debates between candidates but said it was unclear how the primaries will play out.
However, McEnany was all praise for DeSantis, saying the Florida Governor had done a “phenomenal job” in Florida and had many accomplishments he could share during debates.
Referencing polls, McEnany highlighted that surveys show Trump having a “wide lead” but shared her opinion that once DeSantis enters the race, “that lead [will] tighten.”
McEnany also pointed to DeSantis’s strengths, as he was polling well despite not announcing his candidacy yet.
McEnany’s remarks come as speculation emerges that DeSantis is likely to announce a decision to run for the Republican nomination in 2024, sometime in mid-May.
At a news conference on Friday (May 5) that marked the end of Florida’s legislative session, DeSantis said he will soon decide “what happens in the future.”
Reports indicate he plans to enter the race for the White House by June at the latest, but DeSantis said such reporting was inaccurate.
Florida’s governor has not directly or publicly confirmed that he is considering a run, but it has been widely speculated he will be a possible candidate.
In hypothetical Republican primary polling, DeSantis consistently finishes second, although Trump maintains a significant double-digit lead.
DeSantis’ chances of winning the GOP nomination have also weakened recently among some observers and pundits, as Trump has repeatedly attacked him, some supporters have criticized his agenda, and he has lost donors.
But there are still Republican donors and strategists who assert DeSantis should not be underestimated and has fundraising power and influence that few others in his party have.
