NEWS AND OPINION:
His campaign calls it the “Ron DeSantis Comeback.”
Fans of the Florida governor and Republican presidential candidate perhaps did not know he had to “come back” from anything at the moment. Nonetheless, the White House hopeful has good news to share.
Mr. DeSantis “shattered expectations,” the campaign said, by bringing in $15 million during the third quarter fundraising period between his campaign committee, leadership PAC and joint fundraising committee.
“The haul is the most emphatic signal yet that the momentum behind his comeback candidacy is continuing to build as we near the 100-day countdown to the Iowa Caucus,” the committee said in a written statement shared with the Beltway.
“Anyone that knows Ron DeSantis knows that he is a fighter, a winner, and a leader,” said campaign manager James Uthmeier.
“This significant fundraising haul not only provides us with the resources we need in the fight for Iowa and beyond, but it also shuts down the doubters who counted out Ron DeSantis for far too long. Ron DeSantis is the only candidate with the vision to reverse America’s decline and the track record to prove he will get the job done,” Mr. Uthmeier noted.
“This campaign is built to last and win. Ron DeSantis is the only candidate in this race who can beat both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, revive our economy, secure the border, make America energy dominant, and end the weaponization of government once and for all,” he said.
‘SPEAKER’ TRUMP HEADLINES
It could be a media dream come true if former President Donald Trump suddenly decided he would like to become the next speaker of the U.S. House. That possibility has very little chance of becoming a political reality for many reasons — but the press can always mull the possibilities.
Some headlines of note from the last 24 hours:
“Republican congressman to nominate Trump for House speaker” (The Guardian); “Trump rules our speaker run as GOP floats him as McCarthy replacement” (The Hill); “Republican firebrand Jim Jordan, a Trump ally, becomes first to announce speaker bid” (NBC News); “How Trump shadowed McCarthy’s doomed speakership” (Axios); “How Trump shadowed McCarthy’s doomed speakership” (Fox News); “Why Trump, despite the chatter, won’t become House speaker” (MSNBC); Yes, Trump could become speaker of the House” (Vice); “Trump ‘open’ to being speaker as House Republicans float his name - but their own rules prevent anyone indicted for a felony from holding the job” (The Daily Mail).
STOP WITH THE FIGHTING
There is a fair amount of rumbling, grumbling and drama among Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill as the House speaker situation evolves — and with it power fluctuations in those hallowed halls.
Someone has some advice at this time, however.
“Anytime we’re fighting with each other, we’re taking away from our public message against President Joe Biden. We’re about a year out from a critical election where we have a great Senate map. We’ve got to hold the House — and we can win the White House,” said Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDonald in a wide-ranging interview with Fox Business on Wednesday.
A genuine and productive GOP message to the public, however, does not appear to be emerging, however.
“The headlines today aren’t about the border, they’re not about the failure of Bidenomics. They’re not about fentanyl. They are about Republican Party in-fighting. This is not good,” Mrs. McDaniel said.
She also added some praise for former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the conversation with the network — noting she was “very sad on a personal level for my friend, Kevin McCarthy.”
STAY OUT OF IT
Should businesses weigh in on political matters and current events? The public does not appear entirely impressed with the idea.
“Less than half of U.S. adults (41%) believe businesses should take a public stance on current events, down from 48% in 2022,” wrote Stephanie Markey, a senior partner in the education division of the Gallup poll.
“Political party identification has the strongest influence on whether Americans believe corporations should take a public stance. Most Democrats (62%) believe businesses should take a public stance on current events, compared with just 17% of Republicans and 36% of independents. While still high, the percentage of Democrats who believe businesses should take a stance has declined from 75% in 2022,” Ms. Markey wrote.
“The percentage of independents reporting that companies should take a stance has declined slightly, by four percentage points, while Republicans’ views on this issue have remained essentially unchanged,” she said.
See specific results and the survey particulars in the Poll du Jour at column’s end
VIVEK ON THE MOVE
Always energetic Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy has launched an official “Michigan Unforgotten American Tour,” aiming to persuade Michiganders that he has a sympathetic ear for their concerns.
Mr. Ramaswamy has hit the ground running — making five planned stops in Saginaw, Flint, Burton, Holly and Big Rapids on Wednesday alone.
“Vivek Ramaswamy will highlight the pressing need for policy reforms to unlock the economy and re-shore manufacturing jobs back to the United States,” his campaign said in a written statement to the Beltway.
POLL DU JOUR
55% of U.S. adults say businesses should “take a public stance” on climate change.
52% say businesses should take a stand on mental health.
49% say they should take a stand on free speech, 49% on health care issues, 45% on racial issues.
39% say they should take a stand on gun lawns, 37% on LGBTQ+ issues.
34% say they should take a stand on immigration policy, 27% on international conflicts.
26% say businesses should take a stand on abortion, 19% on political candidates.
15% say they should take a stand on religion.
Source: A Bentley-Gallup Business in Society survey of 5,458 U.S. adults conducted May 8-15 and released Wednesday.
Follow Jennifer Harper on X @HarperBulletin.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.