While Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is set to announce his 2024 presidential campaign next week, the GOP Sunshine State governor is reportedly trying to lock up another red state governor to be his vice presidential running mate if he wins the nomination.
RadarOnline.com reports that “Ron DeSantis is determined to recruit Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders as his running mate before making a formal announcement on his 2024 presidential bid,” according to sources close to the campaign.
He has his sights set on the Arkansas governor, who is the first female governor of the state. It also would be a blow to fellow GOP presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson, the former Republican governor of Arkansas.
“He really only has one strong choice: Sarah,” the source exclusively told the outlet. “He is desperate to lock up his running mate before he makes his formal announcement. He would announce his VP candidate very soon afterward.”
“He thinks it will be a one-two punch and Republicans will be hard-pressed to look past a united front, especially if it is him and Sarah,” said the campaign insider.
The outlet also reported that Huckabee Sanders has “refused to endorse her former boss,” referencing President Trump, who appointed her his press secretary.
“At the moment, she has a foot in both camps,” the source close to the Arkansas governor told RadarOnline.
“Part of her wants to embrace the new GOP and she believes DeSantis is the man,” the insider claimed, according to the report. “But she is worried about Trump’s influence and the results of recent polls only shows that. The governor is keeping her powder dry.”
DeSantis needs to face reality and become Trump’s vice-president, then become president after Trump’s 2nd term.