DeSantis introduces himself to GOP voters in first week of campaign as war of words with Trump escalates
CBS News Des Moines, Iowa – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday capped off his first week on the presidential campaign trail as the final speaker at Sen. Joni Ernst's "Roast & Ride" event, which also hosted several other Republican presidential hopefuls.
There, he condensed his usual 45-minute stump speech into just 10 minutes. He made clear overtures to the first presidential primary state, wrapped into his claim of electability in 2024.
"There's no substitute for victory, and we need to dispense with the culture of losing that has been set by the Republican Party in recent years," DeSantis said. "Iowa shows that can be done. Florida shows it can be done."
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis greets attendees during the annual Roast and Ride hosted by Sen. Joni Ernst in Des Moines on June 3, 2023. Rachel Mummey/Bloomberg via Getty Images
DeSantis barnstormed the state on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by stops in New Hampshire on Thursday and South Carolina on Friday. His campaign said Friday evening that a combined 7,000 people attended his 12 events across the three states this week.
