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Of all the things that you can say about Governor Ron DeSantis other than he’s a massively popular, recently re-elected by a landslide governor of Florida, is that he most certainly has his own style. He is not flashy about the things he does, yet he is quiet and solid in his work, which probably explains why he won re-election by 20 points.

Today begins the leadup to the kickoff of the Conservative Political Action Conference, hosted by the American Conservative Union, which makes its return to Washington D.C. after being held in Florida for a couple of years during COVID. CPAC is one of the largest gatherings of conservatives each and every year and brings out a host of politicians and conservative influencers along with activists from across the country to meet and listen to each other speak.

Former President Donald Trump will be the keynote speaker on the final day of the conference which he has been for the past five or six years.

As I was reading my news updates this morning the story below came across my desk and I was surprised to learn that the governor of Florida was skipping this annual event this year and heading out on the road to meet with people in some of the other states. These meetings are far from the gathering in the District of Columbia and in much warmer areas. Having been to CPAC a number of times, I can tell you that not being in D.C. this time of year is really not a bad call, particularly for a warm weather Governor.

From the Associated Press:

Republican presidential contenders typically fight for prime speaking slots at the Conservative Political Action Conference. But as conservative activists gather in suburban Washington this week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will be courting donors more than a thousand miles away in Texas and California.

The apparent CPAC snub is nothing new for DeSantis, who has emerged in the early phase of the 2024 presidential election as a leading contender for the GOP nomination even as he ignores many conventions of modern politics.

DeSantis is a frequent voice in conservative cultural fights on cable television, but he often avoids gatherings of fellow Republican governors and party leaders, who are quick to complain in private about his go-it-alone approach. He is the only top-tier presidential prospect yet to court voters in Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina, the states hosting the GOP’s opening presidential primary contests. And he is often at odds with the press, refusing even to notify local media of last week’s rare three-state tour with law enforcement.

This is a very interesting move, to say the least.

Personally, I’m in the camp that we should have as many contenders for the Republican nomination for President as possible. I believe it is literally idiotic to believe that out of a nation of 330 million people only one or two people are qualified enough to run for the Presidency. So if you’re one of those people who believes that former President Donald Trump is owed the nomination with no opposition, I’m sorry to disappoint but I think that position is ludicrous.

The more the merrier as they say.

Yet while DeSantis seems to be making moves to run for the nomination, he is doing it in a way that long-time political watchers such as myself find both confusing and fascinating. If DeSantis is actually laying the groundwork as many believe he is for one of the GOP nominations he obviously is going to do it in his own unique way and blaze his own trail.

Even if the Ghost of Primaries Past tries to spook him (See: Jeb Bush Endorses Ron DeSantis for President, and His Supporters Couldn’t Be Less Thrilled).

If you are a supporter of former president Trump, great. If you think the party needs to go a bit younger with somebody like Ambassador Nikki Haley, that’s good too. However, if you are looking at this like I am and want a flood of candidates to debate the future direction of not only the Republican party but of the country, you my friend are the coolest of all.

So as CPAC kicks off let the games begin in earnest and pave the road to replace Joe “Falling Upstairs” Biden.

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