Sometimes it isn't about the money. Gov. Ron DeSantis' announcement Thursday that he is raising money to back President Donald Trump against an impeachment coup is more about the Florida governor's vote of confidence in the president than it is about any amount of cash he can raise. Trust me on that.
DeSantis, only nine months in office, is riding high right now. His popularity has never been greater. He told the world Thursday morning he was getting involved on behalf of the Republican Party of Florida. That's a message for Republicans to follow his lead. And a message to Republicans "wussing" over where to stand going into an election year.
The point is, there's probably no one in Florida right now more capable than DeSantis of stopping the bleeding in the public arena or in the president's reelection campaign.
“As governor of Florida, I want the president to know that we have his back in this fight 100 percent, so today I’m issuing the Presidential Protection Fund to fight back against this disgusting attempt to overturn a legitimate U.S. election,” DeSantis wrote in an email Thursday.
Trump faces allegations he tried to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to help in the 2020 election. It all follows a complaint filed by an intelligence officer, who alleges Trump asked Zelensky in a telephone call to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.
“When I served in Congress, I fought back against the Democrats’ witch hunts every single day. I REFUSE to let them overturn the 2016 election and erase your vote from history,” wrote DeSantis to the people of Florida. “Now that Democrats are officially moving to impeach our duly elected president, my duty to protect him isn’t over.”
DeSantis said Democrats are trying to avoid an election
Trump's support for DeSantis' gubernatorial candidacy in 2018 was crucial. But until Thursday, the day the full Trump-Ukraine whistleblower complaint was released, the governor had kept a low profile in the president's re-election.
Immediately upon release of the complaint, national Democrats were summarizing their chances of impeachment with these allegations:
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"Donald Trump weaponized his office to convince the president of Ukraine to investigate a political opponent – in other words, he attempted to recruit foreign interference in our elections."
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"Trump attempted to extort Ukraine by threatening to withhold aid unless they complied."
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"The White House tried to cover up this crime by hiding the records."
Allegations, even gossip/hearsay -- nowhere near statements of fact, say White House officials. But in the meantime, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' strong response on Trump's behalf -- his Presidential Protection Fund -- is getting extensive play in the media across the state and around the country. It was a loud statement. And it has meaning.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith
