Trump vs. DeSantis: Some Polk Republicans seek to remain neutral as campaign heats up

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The long-awaited entry of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis into the presidential race creates a dilemma for Republicans in Polk County.

Do they choose a favorite between the state's leader and former President Donald Trump, still the dominant figure in the party? Or do they try to remain neutral, even as the rhetorical sparring between Trump and DeSantis becomes increasingly barbed?

A survey of local Republicans following DeSantis' official campaign launch Wednesday night found varying poses at this early stage of the 2024 election.

Though DeSantis wasn't formally a candidate before Wednesday, his announcement had been anticipated for months. Cynthia Dugan, president of the Republican Women's Club of Lakeland, said her members have been hearing opinions about the presidential prospects from visitors to their booth at the monthly First Friday event in downtown Lakeland.

"A lot of people stop and talk to us, and I guess the biggest thing everybody is saying is it'd be great if he (DeSantis) ran for president, but they really don't want him to leave being the governor," Dugan said. "We want two more years."

DeSantis won re-election as governor last year, and his second term runs through 2026. He would have to leave midway through his term if he wins the Republican nomination to challenge President Joe Biden, a Democrat seeking re-election.

Dugan clarified that the Republicans who'd like to see DeSantis serve a full second term aren't necessarily stating a preference for Trump in the presidential race.

"He (DeSantis) has done so many great things for the state while he's been governor that they just want that to continue for four years until he terms out," she said.

'We've got some good people'

Jim Guth, the chair of the Polk County Republican Executive Committee, said that party rules prevent the organization from favoring any candidate in a Republican primary election. As of Friday, the main page of the local party's website featured equally sized displays declaring "Stand with Trump" and "Stand with Governor Ron DeSantis."

"I feel blessed that we've got some good people that are out there running for office, because at least from where I sit, I don't like the direction of the country, and I don't like the direction of the world for the last two years," Guth said. "So when you take a look at the people who have announced in the Republican Party, nearly any one of them would be able to do better than what we've got."

Along with Trump and DeSantis, the Republican field includes Nikki Haley, Tim Scott and Asa Hutchinson.

Guth said that he doesn't expect most local Republicans to remain neutral about the race.

"The circles that I am in, I will tell you that there are strong preferences out there," he said. "I'm not willing to identify exactly where those are, but I will tell you that I see them on both sides. And I say 'both,' recognizing that there are more than two announced candidates out there. But of the people that I talk to, they really split into those two groups, DeSantis or Trump."

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Guth said that some Republicans would like to see a combined ticket, with one of the pair running for vice president, but he considers that prospect highly unlikely. The U.S. Constitution forbids candidates from the same state from running together in that state's primary, meaning that a combined ticket would forfeit Florida's crucial 30 Electoral College votes.

Aside from that, Guth said he thinks the two egos in question would prevent either from accepting a second slot on the ballot.

'I think Trump deserves a second term'

Dena Decamp, president of the Polk County Republican Patriot Club, was most open among those surveyed in stating a preference.

"I personally support Trump," she said. "That doesn't mean that I can't change my mind, but I still think that Trump has the experience and knowledge and proven record to be allowed to be president again. So I think that DeSantis is young enough he could wait for Trump to get out of office and run for president then. That doesn't mean I won't support him if he gets the nomination. But if you ask me right now, I worked hard to get (Trump) elected, and then we had that fiasco of the last election — and, yes, I am one the people who believe the (2020) election was stolen — so I think that Trump deserves his second term."

DeCamp, past president of the Florida Federation of Republican Women, said some Republicans have told her they're "disappointed" that DeSantis didn't state during his re-election campaign that he would run for president in 2024. During his one debate with Democrat Charlie Crist, DeSantis declined to say that if re-elected as governor he would serve the entire four-year term.

"Everybody kept asking him, and he danced around it," DeCamp said. "We all had a pretty good idea what he was going to do, but he goes and leaves us now to run for president — so what happens to Florida for the next two years? That's an issue with a lot of people."

The Florida Legislature passed a bill in this year's session ensuring that DeSantis need not resign as governor in order to run for president. If DeSantis were to be elected president, Lt. Gov. Jeannette Nunez would become governor.

Jesse O'Hara, vice president of the Cypress Lakes Republican Club in North Lakeland, also said that he'd prefer to see DeSantis wait his turn to be president.

"I love our governor, and I wish he would stay for three and a half more years working on our state," O'Hara said. "But I still like the guy a tremendous amount. But my preference is still Trump. And a whole lot of my friends, they just think the world of DeSantis, but they are just a little bit disappointed. Many of my friends think that 2028 is the time for DeSantis."

'I just hope it doesn't divide our party'

Trump, whose endorsement of DeSantis proved crucial in the 2018 gubernatorial election, began lobbing verbal bombs at the governor long before Wednesday's official announcement. DeSantis had previously resisted direct responses, but he has become more critical of Trump in recent days.

"I just hope it doesn't divide our party," O'Hara said. "I would prefer that both of them just concentrate on taking after the Democrats and all the garbage that they've been doing, and I would encourage both Trump and DeSantis to keep it positive and just take after the liberal establishment instead of each other. But, yeah, I am concerned that it's going to split our party a little bit."

Dugan seemed less concerned about a possible party split.

"I think there's still a whole lot of wait and see as things transpire, which is the nature of politics," she said. "And we've got almost another year. I think a lot can happen in that time."

Amilee Stuckey, state Republican committeewoman for Polk County, expressed praise for Trump and DeSantis. She said she wasn't certain if her official position required her to avoid stating a preference.

"I don't know about official policy, but my personal policy is I'm going to remain neutral," she said. "I have great respect for both of them, and I think either one of them would make a great president."

A spokeswoman for Rep. Scott Franklin, R-Lakeland, said he was not making an endorsement "at this time." Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Tampa, has endorsed DeSantis, who appointed her as Florida's Secretary of State. Rep. Daniel Webster endorsed Trump this week, Politico reported.

All six members of Polk County's legislative delegation recently endorsed DeSantis, joining most Republicans in doing so. The endorsements came as legislators are awaiting DeSantis' potential vetoes of funding for local projects in this year's state budget.

Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13.