THAT IS a question now running around in the media…..
While Florida Republican Governor DeSantis is sinking in the 2024 Republican Presidential nomination narrative and now attacking Donald Trump in public?
House Rep. Gaetz IS soaring in the eyes of Trump supporting Florida voters …
(Donald Trump DOES reside IN Florida now, Right?)
The problem though is the Florida Governor election is more than 2 years away…..
Gaetz emerged Tuesday, after successfully booting McCarthy from the speakership, as one of the most influential Republicans in the nation — the leader of the first successful House coup. And as he eyes Florida’s governorship, his shadow feud could quickly turn Washington dynamics into fodder for a Tallahassee campaign war.
“We are breaking the fever,” Gaetz declared outside the U.S. Capitol shortly after the vote Tuesday.
His move, however, was met with immediate backlash from some Florida Republicans, including Republican Rep. John Rutherford, who tore into Gaetz for “driving our nation toward the brink of another government shutdown, all for clicks and cash and a boost in his national profile….
…
Some of the scrambling over the race can be traced to Gaetz. The pugilistic Trump ally was the center of attention in January during McCarthy’s speakership battle in the House, leading to speculation that he was trying to raise his profile ahead of a possible run for governor.
That’s only increased over the last few weeks as Gaetz led the House conservative revolt against McCarthy and agitated for a government shutdown. Rank-and-file House Republicans view Gaetz’s recent moves, in part, as an attempt to boost his political standing back home.
But Gaetz dismissed the hype around his possible 2026 gubernatorial run, saying in a brief interview earlier this week that he has “no plans to run for governor,” though admitted he thought “Tallahassee is a lot more lovely than Washington.”
During a livestreamed chat in August, Gaetz didn’t push back when Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, said they’d both endorse him for governor.
“I would definitely enjoy that job so much,” Gaetz replied. “I would never leave it if I ever got that opportunity.”
And Gaetz has been spending more time in Florida, said a former GOP operative, granted anonymity to protect their work relationships.
“He’s showing up at more Florida events than we’ve seen him at in the last six years — football games, the [Florida] Capitol — we didn’t see him for years and all the sudden he’s got a presence again,” the person said.
Donald Trump also added to the interest when he was asked about Gaetz’s possible bid during an interview with the conservative National Pulse, praising the lawmaker as a “great guy, a wonderful person.”….
image…MSNBC News