Ron DeSantis is back in Florida after a long stretch of campaigning, but the governor is hardly returning home for rest.
His state faces two simultaneous crises: the aftermath of a racist shooting in Jacksonville and the onslaught of a hurricane churning through the Gulf of Mexico, which is expected to make landfall in Florida. For the first time since announcing his presidential bid, DeSantis’ governing responsibilities will take precedence to campaigning — making this both a moment of potential political danger and a unique opportunity to demonstrate competence on the fly in a primary that features only one other sitting governor.
And it means pressing pause on DeSantis’ near-constant war of words against President Joe Biden and embracing him as a partner — if only for the moment.
News of the shooting in Jacksonville reached DeSantis as he drew toward the end of a two-day bus tour of northwestern Iowa. Dressed in a casual shirt and campaign-branded vest, DeSantis greeted potential caucusgoers at an event in Garner, but the glad-handing soon finished and DeSantis spoke by phone with Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters that evening, according to the governor’s office administration schedule.
Less than 24 hours later, he stood before Jacksonville’s Black community in a suit, next to his wife, Casey, at a community vigil in memory of the shooting victims.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Idalia continued to strengthen as it crept toward Florida’s Big Bend, and DeSantis’ campaign canceled two events so he could stay focused on storm preparations from Tallahassee.
Speaking from the state’s emergency operations center Monday, the pugilistic candidate had been replaced by a sober executive. And one of DeSantis’ favorite campaign-trail punching bags, Biden, was instead a partner in government.
On the stump, DeSantis seems to take pleasure in his attacks on Biden, often mocking the president for everything from the cocaine found in the White House to his son Hunter’s artwork.
“I’m going to run him ragged all across this country — the American people are going to see a sharp contrast between somebody who’s not even up to the job versus somebody who is energetic, vigorous and has a record of achievement,” DeSantis said to sustained applause at a campaign event Saturday in Algona, Iowa.
By Monday afternoon, that tone had changed.
“I think he appreciated that this is going to be a major hurricane and that’s something that’s significant,” DeSantis said, adding that the president had assured that the federal government is ready to assist state authorities.
A statement the White House released earlier that morning said Biden also expressed support for Jacksonville following Saturday’s attack.
