WASHINGTON — Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, an early endorser of Ron DeSantis’ undeclared presidential candidacy, said more congressional support for the Florida governor would be forthcoming, framing the 2024 Republican primary as a “2-way race.”
Massie, who organized a meet-and-greet event for DeSantis in Washington on Tuesday, made the comments in an interview with McClatchyDC Thursday, as DeSantis weathers a deluge of withering media coverage questioning his political strategy and ability to take on Trump.
“I know people who have decided to endorse him who haven’t come out publicly yet,” Massie said, referring to his congressional colleagues.
Trump secured the support of at least four more U.S. House members just this week, including Florida Reps. John Rutherford, Greg Steube and Michael Waltz, in addition to Texas Rep. Lance Gooden. Trump’s Florida congressional endorsements now total nine, compared to DeSantis’ one.
Massie made clear his desire for DeSantis to formally declare sooner rather than later.
“I think you just got to get in the race. I would love for him to be in the race now. If he were in the race I think he could, you know,” Massie said before his voice trailed off. “As soon as he gets in the race, he’s going to make progress.”
DeSantis met with approximately three-dozen members of Congress for two hours, according to Massie. Most of the time was devoted to individual conversations with lawmakers he did not serve with during his congressional tenure.
Massie said part of the objective of the event was to dispel the notion that DeSantis isn’t personable or attuned to the gripping and grinning of retail politics. It was also meant to send a signal of his determination to enter the race on his own terms.
“I think it’s pretty obvious to people he’s getting in the race. Anybody (else) who gets in right now really doesn’t have a chance. It’s a 2-way race. There is no third place,” Massie said, dismissing other announced and potential GOP presidential candidacies in the making.
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy are also running. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who was appointed by Haley to his current seat, has formed an exploratory committee. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is expected to formally declare his candidacy next week.
Trump leads all his rivals, having built an early double-digit national lead over DeSantis. A University of New Hampshire primary poll released this week calculated Trump at 42% to DeSantis’ 22%.
“I do think the flood of polls about Trump surging is definitely discouraging for DeSantis and it has let out all the air of the so-called momentum balloon,” said Mike Dennehy, a Granite State Republican consultant who worked on the presidential runs of John McCain. “I also think his numbers are dropping because he isn’t active enough, and he isn’t doing anything flashy to drive them up.”
DeSantis could wait until June or even July to formally enter the contest. The first Republican primary debate has been scheduled for August, so delaying beyond that entry point is highly unlikely.
Massie said that where DeSantis stands in August will be a much more important factor in his anticipated battle against Trump than the early leg of a yet-to-be joined race in April.
“I don’t think he’s rattled by the polls. He’s like me scratching his head at how somebody can get indicted and their popularity doubles. To me, it doesn’t seem right,” Massie said.
But the Kentuckian added, “I think the polls are going to keep showing he’s the only person who can beat Donald Trump and the money’s going to start flowing to him very quickly.”
