DeSantis defends Trump from claims of electoral weakness within the GOP

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis defended former President Donald Trump Wednesday against critics claiming Trump is in a worrying electoral position because of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley’s 14% vote total, despite no longer being in the running.

Trump, per unofficial results, finished the Florida primary with 81.2% of the vote.

A reporter had asked DeSantis about Trump finishing lower than he did in the 2020 primary, which was uncontested.

“People are saying that, and they’re trying to ding Trump […] Haley was a candidate when mail ballots went out,” the governor said. “It wasn’t that he was uncontested.”

“Our election in Florida goes like six weeks,” he said. “Most of them were cast early. So, I don’t think that’s a ding on Trump, given that those mail ballots went out when she was still actively campaigning.”

Indeed, Haley dropped out on March 6, but mail-in ballots for the Florida primary were sent out in early-February, and much of Florida’s turnout was mail-in voting.

DeSantis achieved 3.7% of the vote, or over 41,000 votes, Tuesday night in the primary – though he dropped out in January. The governor quickly endorsed Trump for president after dropping out following the Iowa caucuses.

The governor was also asked if he’d join Trump on the campaign trail in Florida. However, he responded that there likely won’t be much active presidential campaigning in the Sunshine State because of its hard rightward trend.