Everyone thought the GOP nominee was looking like Trump. But what just happened turned everything on its head.
And this surprise 2024 news threatens to upend the entire Republican primary.
The polls are all pointing to Donald Trump sweeping the Republican race for the nomination.
He holds a commanding lead, and only one other contender even has double digits in the polls.
But things could be changing after a massive endorsement cut against Trump.
The FAMiLY Leader’s President and CEO, Bob Vander Plaats, announced Tuesday evening that he is endorsing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for President.
Vander Plaats — whose endorsements have won the state in 2008, 2012, and 2016 — made the remarks during an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier on “Special Report.”
“I’m thrilled to throw my personal endorsement and support behind Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida,” Vander Plaats said.
“We need to find somebody who can win in 2024 and what we saw in 2022, the supposedly ‘red wave’ really only happened in Florida and in Iowa.”
“Governor DeSantis took a reliable toss-up state in Florida and made it complete red, won by 20 points, won in demographics that we haven’t won in,” he continued.
“But he’s also done that by being a bold and courageous leader. So right away, it was kind of his endorsement to lose.”
According to Vander Plaats, the DeSantis family attends church with him in Iowa and visits others in their homes and offices.
“But at last Friday’s Thanksgiving Family Forum, he closed the sale on me; he was very clear about we need a president who can serve two terms, not one term,” he said.
“We don’t need a president [who’s] gonna be a lame duck on day one, you need a president [who’s] going to surround themselves with the best and brightest people versus having a hard time attracting them again. And someone [who] is actually going to do what they say they’re going to do.”
Vander Plaats stated that DeSantis “has the spine” for the job and the expertise required to succeed.
He shot down accusations from the Trump campaign that DeSantis bought Vander Plaats’ endorsement, saying, “President Trump knows better than anybody that my endorsement has never been and never will be for sale.”
“So it has nothing to do with any any type of money that is being paid or anything like that,” he said.
“I know that’s what they want to claim, but that is not the case. What we’re trying to do is we believe 2024 is the most important election of our lifetime. We believe we need to choose and choose well.”
He went on to say that he believes the GOP primary will be a one-on-one battle between Trump and DeSantis, and that other contenders must drop out to make room for those two.
Vander Plaats’ endorsement comes just a few weeks after Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds endorsed DeSantis for president, marking the state’s first presidential primary endorsement in over three decades.
We need to find somebody who can win in 2024, and that's why I'm endorsing @RonDeSantis. pic.twitter.com/lV7Zjye3qw
— Bob Vander Plaats (@bobvanderplaats) November 22, 2023
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