DeSantis, not Trump, leads Biden in key states, sets fundraising record

KARAH RUCKER: FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY – THERE ARE TWO CANDIDATES TOP OF MIND FOR THEIR PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE IN 2024. THAT’S FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. AND FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS.

WHILE DESANTIS HAS YET TO ANNOUNCE A BID FOR THE WHITE HOUSE – A NEW POLL HAS HIM – NOT TRUMP – LEADING BIDEN IN BATTLEGROUND STATES.

“PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES” FOUND THAT DESANTIS WOULD BEAT BIDEN IN ARIZONA AND PENNSYLVANIA IN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

BUT THE SAME POLL HAD TRUMP LOSING THE BID TO BIDEN. DESANTIS HAS YET TO ANNOUNCE A RUN FOR PRESIDENT – BUT HIS RECENT ITINERARY MATCHES THAT OF SOMEONE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL – TAKING TO NEW HAMPSHIRE OVER THE WEEKEND.

THE FLORIDA GOVERNOR SOLD OUT THE GALA EVENT – AND FOR SOMEONE NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT – WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN FUNDRAISING FOR THE STATE PARTY – BREAKING THE GALA’S RECORD BY PULLING IN MORE THAN A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS.

WHILE THERE WAS MUCH SUPPORT – DESANTIS BRIEFLY SHARED THE STAGE WITH TWO WOMEN WHO TOOK TO THE STAGE IN PROTEST.

ALSO HAPPENING OVER THE WEEKEND WAS THE NRA’S NATIONAL CONVENTION IN INDIANAPOLIS. TRUMP ADDRESSED THE NRA LEADERS IN PERSON WHILE DESANTIS DELIVERED A VIRTUAL MESSAGE. 

POLITICAL ADS PRODUCED BY SUPER PACS AIRED AHEAD OF THE NRA EVENT – SETTING THE TONE FOR A COMPETITIVE GOP PRIMARY SEASON TO COME.