Ron DeSantis to Enter Presidential Race in Mid-May?

According to new reports, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will enter the 2024 presidential race in mid-May.

DeSantis will reportedly launch an exploratory committee next month.

BREAKING: Ron DeSantis to launch 2024 presidential exploratory committee next month: Report https://t.co/z3f5jdouhN

— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 27, 2023

BREAKING: DeSantis expected to launch 2024 presidential campaign in mid-May: reporthttps://t.co/quXihqhtg0

— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) April 27, 2023

NBC News wrote after speaking with GOP operatives reportedly familiar with the conversations.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is poised to jump into the presidential fray as soon as mid-May, four GOP operatives familiar with the conversations told NBC News.

One of the sources emphasized that it would be an exploratory committee, with the official launch coming soon after.

Some of his backers are urging him to declare as early as May 11, to counter the creeping national narrative that former President Donald Trump is the overwhelming front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination. Others in the governor’s orbit, however, have argued that that date would be too soon, according to two of those sources. All emphasized, however, that mid-May is the target.

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DeSantis, long viewed as Trump’s strongest Republican challenger in 2024, has traveled far outside Florida in recent weeks to raise his profile. But some of DeSantis’ allies have started to question his readiness as his poll numbers have lagged and he has fell victim to a series of self-inflicted wounds.

Fox News added:

DeSantis has long been mulling a run for the White House, but has remained tight-lipped over whether he would actually toss his hat into the 2024 fray. Polls have consistently showed him as the runner-up to Trump, while many Republicans have argued he is the best alternative to the former president, who they see as unable to win a national race.

There are currently five presidential hopefuls vying for the Republican nomination in addition to Trump, including businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, businessman Perry Johnson and former California gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder.

The latest GOP primary poll numbers have Trump leading DeSantis by a 28-point average.

In the latest FiveThirtyEight data, Trump garners 51.1% of the vote in the GOP primary and DeSantis notches 23.8%.

Mike Pence has 5.5%, while Nikki Haley has 4.0%.

Also, a Premise poll from March that had a sample size of 1,509 registered voters had Donald Trump performing better against Joe Biden in the general election compared to Ron DeSantis.

According to the poll, Trump defeats Biden 47%-41% and DeSantis defeats Biden 39%-38%.

🇺🇲 2024 Presidential Election Poll

(R) Trump: 47% (+6)
(D) Biden: 41%

(R) DeSantis: 39% (+1)
(D) Biden: 38%

Net 8-point swing towards Trump from February 19 poll (was: 42/44 – Biden +2)@premisedata (B/C) | 1,509 RV | 03/16-21https://t.co/OeAkzfniYp pic.twitter.com/2Tjn1apSiQ

— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) March 22, 2023