Campaign launch hits technical issues

Ron DeSantis experienced technical difficulties during his much-anticipated entry into the 2024 White House race, as a Twitter livestream malfunction caused a 20-minute delay to the start of his campaign.

Despite the setback, the Florida governor used the event to emphasize his conservative credentials, his opposition to lockdown measures, and his proposed education reforms.

“I am running for president of the United States to lead our great American comeback,” DeSantis declared.

Seen as the primary rival to former President Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, DeSantis joins a growing list of contenders seeking to challenge Trump, who currently holds a significant lead over other Republican candidates in national opinion polls.

As the Twitter livestream began, many hundreds of thousands of Twitter users had already left the platform, possibly due to technical issues or other factors.

Since Elon Musk assumed control of Twitter in October, the company has undergone significant changes, including layoffs of numerous employees responsible for site operations and technical troubleshooting.

In response to the technical glitches, DeSantis’s team swiftly tried to spin the situation positively, stating on Twitter that the announcement had caused “the internet to break with excitement” and providing a link to the campaign website.

According to Bryan Griffin, DeSantis’s press secretary, the online event raised $1 million (£808,000) in just one hour.

At its peak, the Twitter event attracted over 600,000 listeners, as per Reuters news agency data, but by its conclusion, the number had dwindled to fewer than 300,000. In comparison, Elon Musk’s interview on Twitter Spaces conducted by the BBC last month garnered over three million listeners.

After getting underway, Mr. DeSantis shifted the focus of the conversation to highlight his conservative credentials, emphasizing his handling of the Covid-19 crisis in Florida with an anti-lockdown approach that has garnered praise from many Republicans.

He staunchly defended his education reforms in the state, stating that Florida had prioritized facts over fear, education over indoctrination, and law and order over rioting and disorder.

During a subsequent interview on Fox News, Mr. DeSantis outlined specific commitments, including declaring a state of emergency at the southern border on his first day in the White House. He also pledged to dismiss FBI Director Christopher Wray, a Trump appointee, and to significantly roll back President Joe Biden’s “anti-American energy policies.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr. DeSantis officially announced his intention to seek the Republican presidential nomination, registering with the Federal Election Commission and releasing a stylized announcement video.

In the video, he stated, “Our border is a disaster, crime infests our cities… and the president flounders. But decline is a choice, success is attainable, and freedom is worth fighting for.”

Mr. DeSantis’s highly anticipated entry into the 2024 presidential field was met with a flurry of emails and posts from Mr. Trump and his campaign on Truth Social, the former president’s social media platform.

Shortly after the governor mentioned to Mr. Musk that he would explore the powers granted by the US Constitution to invoke executive authority, Mr. Trump issued a direct statement addressing Mr. DeSantis.

“‘Rob,’ My Red Button is bigger, better, stronger, and is working (TRUTH!), yours does not! (according to my conversation with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, soon to be my friend!),” Mr. Trump wrote.

The most recent survey by Morning Consult, published prior to Mr. DeSantis’s announcement, places him a significant 38 points behind Mr. Trump.

Republican voters will decide through a lengthy primary process, beginning early next year, which candidate will ultimately face President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in the general election scheduled for November 2024.

Mr. DeSantis is relatively new to US politics, having initially been elected to the House of Representatives in 2012. Just six years later, in 2018, after an unsuccessful bid for the Senate, he was elected governor of Florida.

During his tenure, he has implemented notable legislation that eases gun ownership, imposes restrictions on sex and gender identity education in schools, and limits access to abortion. He asserts that this “Florida Blueprint” could serve as a model for federal policies, guiding the US towards a distinctly conservative path.

Furthermore, Florida’s recent legislative session addressed a potential obstacle to Mr. DeSantis’s candidacy by passing a bill that allows him to run for the presidency without resigning from his position as governor.

Mr. DeSantis will also have a significant advantage in terms of campaign funds. As of the end of last month, he had $88 million (£71 million) remaining from his Florida re-election campaign, which can be allocated to his White House bid.

In addition, it is reported that he controls around $30 million through an independent committee, which his allies can utilize to support his campaign.

In contrast, Mr. Trump raised a combined $18.8 million in fundraising during the first three months of 2023.

It is anticipated that Mr. DeSantis will select Generra Peck as his campaign manager. Ms. Peck, who served as Mr. DeSantis’s top political adviser, played a key role in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the governor’s successful 2022 re-election campaign, which resulted in a victory margin of nearly 20 points.

Furthermore, the DeSantis campaign has already begun the process of establishing campaign bases in at least 18 states, as reported by the Associated Press and the New York Times.

Who is Ron DeSantis the Florida Governer?

Ron DeSantis is an American politician who currently serves as the Governor of Florida. He was born on September 14, 1978, in Jacksonville, Florida. DeSantis is a member of the Republican Party and has been in office since January 2019.

Prior to becoming governor, DeSantis served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2018, representing Florida’s 6th congressional district. He is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, where he earned his J.D. degree.

As governor, DeSantis has been known for his conservative policies and alignment with former President Donald Trump. He has focused on issues such as tax cuts, criminal justice reform, education reform, and environmental conservation. DeSantis has gained national attention for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, taking a more open approach to lockdowns and restrictions compared to some other states.

DeSantis has been considered a rising star within the Republican Party and has been mentioned as a potential candidate for higher office, including the presidency. His political aspirations and conservative stance have garnered both support and criticism from various quarters.