Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday suggested that President Joe Biden will not be the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee next year.
And he encouraged GOP voters to gauge their own primary votes accordingly.
In an interview with Newsmax, the Republican governor said Democratic leaders understand that Biden’s age, as he turned 81 on Monday, is a “big issue with voters.”
“I think they want someone else,” he added.
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“But they also know they can’t just push him aside, he’s got to agree, he’s the sitting president,” DeSantis continued. “I don’t know how that’s going to work. I don’t know if he’d be willing to do it. Republican voters … you should assume that it may not be Biden.”
Biden’s birthday has led many to speculate that California’s left-wing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is waiting in the wings to step in if Biden withdraws. On social media, some conservatives have suggested the Democrats are waiting for former President Donald Trump to secure the GOP nomination before opting to swap Newsom for the incumbent.
“So when you’re looking at the choice about who would be the best candidate for us, put someone up that would be able to go up against Biden, or [Vice President Kamala] Harris, or Newsom, or any of these people — and be able to get the job done.”
Additionally, according to Newsmax, DeSantis called Biden “selfish” for seeking a second term and suggested it could be a liability for the GOP to go with Trump, who is almost the same age as Biden, if the Democrats pull the bait and switch.
“Clearly, Biden should not be running again,” DeSantis said. “I think he’s very selfish what he’s doing. Look, the age is part of it, but if you look at where he was four years ago to now, he’s in decline. … He’s totally lost a step. It’s a daily embarrassment.”
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“If Biden decides to keep running,” he continued, “if we run a candidate that can make that generational contrast an issue, that’s gonna be a huge benefit for us.”
“On the flip side,” DeSantis added, “if we run someone that’s pushing 80, and they decide to go someone in the next generation, I think that gives them an advantage in terms of electability.”
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