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WASHINGTON, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Residents of Florida were largely spared a devastating blow from Hurricane Idalia this week, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also appeared to avoid the political peril that could have hurt his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. DeSantis faced a similar test this week when he suspended his campaign to oversee his state's response to Hurricane Idalia. "The real work comes post-storm, and seeing what the damage is and how he reacts," Christian Ziegler, the head of the Florida Republican Party, told Reuters. In the lead-up to the storm, DeSantis held several press conferences per day, always flanked by a bevy of emergency response officials. On the other side, Republican Florida Governor Rick Scott touted his response to 2017's Hurricane Irma in a successful bid for U.S. Senate the following year.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Hurricane Ian, Ian, Idalia, Donald Trump, Christian Ziegler, Joe Biden, Chip Roy, Ford O'Connell, Rick Scott, Irma, Barack Obama's, Sandy, Jeffrey Rumlin, Katrina, Gram Slattery, Ross Colvin, Andy Sullivan Organizations: Republican, Florida Republican Party, Reuters, Governors, Florida Republican, U.S, Senate, Thomson Locations: Florida, Idalia, New Orleans, Republican Florida, Jacksonville

mug shot t-shirts ($34.00), beverage holders ($15.00 for two) and coffee mugs ($25.00). His son Don Jr. is marketing "FREE TRUMP" mug shot t-shirts ($29.99) and posters ($19.99). What legal rights, if any, Trump's campaign may have over the mug shot's reproduction are unclear, however. The former president told Fox News Digital in an interview Thursday night that he only did the mug shot because Georgia officials insisted. Rick Wilson, a co-founder of the Lincoln Project flogging mug shot wares online, dared Trump's campaign to sue him in a Friday post on X.

Persons: Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Mario Anzuoni, Donald Trump's, Don Jr, Etsy, Taylor, David Kochel, Trump, Chris LaCivita, Josh Gerben, Trump's, you've, Rick Wilson, Gram Slattery, Nathan Lane, Blake Brittain, Jason Lange, Steve Holland, Heather Timmons, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Former U.S, Trump, Republican, Lincoln, Republicans, Reuters, U.S, Constitution, Fox News Digital, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Former, Georgia, Los Angeles, Iowa, New York, Fulton, Lincoln

Persons: Donald Trump's, Don Jr, Etsy, Taylor, CJ Butler, it's Trump, David Kochel, Trump, Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Mario Anzuoni, Chris LaCivita, Josh Gerben, Trump's, you've, Rick Wilson, Gram Slattery, Nathan Lane, Blake Brittain, Jason Lange, Rollo Ross, Steve Holland, Heather Timmons, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Former U.S, Trump, Republican, Lincoln, Republicans, REUTERS, Reuters, U.S, Constitution, Fox News Digital, Thomson Locations: Former, Georgia, Los Angeles, Atlanta , Georgia, Iowa, New York, Los Angeles , California, U.S, Fulton, Lincoln

The raucous two-hour debate offered a view of the deep challenges the contenders face in seeking to dislodge Trump from his perch at the top of the field. The debate took place a day before Trump planned to surrender in Atlanta to face charges he sought to overturn his election loss in the state. That led to a sharp back-and-forth between Christie, Trump's biggest critic among Republican candidates, and Ramaswamy, Trump's most ardent defender. In the most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll released this month, Trump held 47% of the Republican vote nationally, with DeSantis dropping six percentage points from July to 13%. Moderators Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier, both Fox News hosts, started the debate by asking about the U.S. economy.

Persons: Asa Hutchinson, Chris Christie, Mike Pence, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Doug Burgum, Donald Trump, Trump, neophyte, Ramaswamy, DeSantis, Tucker Carlson, Carlson, Joe Biden, Haley, Pence, Christie, Trump's, Biden, Martha MacCallum, Bret Baier, Nathan Layne, Jasper Ward, Costas Pitas, Andy Sullivan, Gram Slattery, Alexandra Ulmer, Rami Ayyub, Kanishka Singh, Susan Heavey, Andrea Shalal, Joseph Ax, Ross Colvin, Howard Goller Organizations: Former Arkansas, New, U.S, South Carolina, North Dakota, Republican, Florida, Trump, Fox News, United Nations, Twitter, North, Reuters, Republicans, Supreme, Democratic, Thomson Locations: New Jersey, Florida, U.S, MILWAUKEE, Iowa, Ukraine, Russia, United States, Atlanta, North Dakota, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Texas, Milwaukee

[1/2] Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at the first Republican candidates' debate of the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. August 23, 2023. According to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted before the debate, 8% of Republicans supported Pence, 7% backed Ramaswamy and 5% supported Haley. SEVERAL CONTENDERSCandidates like Pence, Haley and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott receiving attention from donors and voters is bad news for DeSantis. Jay Zeidman, a Houston-based donor and DeSantis bundler, said "the governor did what he needed to do" at the debate. But DeSantis was hardly mentioned by his rivals, and he ended up speaking less than Pence, Haley and Ramaswamy.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Brian Snyder, Donald Trump's, Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Mike Pence, Pence, Ramaswamy, Haley, DeSantis, Trump, Brett Doster, Robert Doar, Tim Scott, assertively, Dan Eberhart, Jay Zeidman, DeSantis bundler, Nikki, Christie, Vivek, Scott, Chris Christie, Gram Slattery, James Oliphant, Alexandra Ulmer, Ross Colvin Organizations: Republican, Florida, REUTERS, Rights, American Enterprise Institute, Trump, South, DeSantis, Reuters, America, New, Thomson Locations: Milwaukee , Wisconsin, U.S, Florida, Milwaukee, Tallahassee, United States, Ukraine, South Carolina, Houston, Texas, New Jersey, California, Washington, San Francisco

☆ In Trump's absence, DeSantis seen as 'punching bag' in first Republican debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis listens to a question from the audience at a campaign town hall meeting in Newport, New Hampshire, U.S., August 19, 2023. In Trump's absence, candidates are expected to launch a fusillade of attacks on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, as competitors try to displace him as Trump's top challenger, according to strategists and aides to rival campaigns. DeSantis is seen as vulnerable after a summer slide in the polls, which have left him languishing more than 30 points behind Trump in the race. "He's going to be a punching bag," said Brian Darling, a Republican strategist and former senior aide to U.S. Still, Trump's no-show doesn't mean he won't be a major presence in the debate, which kicks off at the Fiserv Forum at 9 p.m.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Brian Snyder, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, Tucker Carlson, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Brian Darling, Rand Paul, Martha MacCallum, Bret Baier, Chris Christie, Asa Hutchinson, Mike Pence, Jeanette Hoffman, He's, Hoffman, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Doug Burgum, Hutchinson, Pence, Ramaswamy, Christie, Christopher Wlezien, Wlezien, Nathan Layne, Gram Slattery, Susan Heavey, Ross Colvin, Deepa Babington, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Republican, Florida, REUTERS, Democratic, Fox News, Florida Governor, Trump, Former New Jersey, Former Arkansas, U.S . Capitol, North Dakota, Reuters, University of Texas, Austin, Thomson Locations: Newport , New Hampshire, U.S, Milwaukee, Florida, Atlanta, Georgia, Former, Christie

[1/2] Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis speaks next to Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds during a "Fair-Side Chat" hosted by the governor at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., August 12, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Several top Republican presidential contenders on Wednesday will take part in the first debate of the 2024 primary election cycle. All major Republican candidates will be present with one major exception: former President Donald Trump. The candidates are also required to sign a pledge certifying that they will support the eventual Republican nominee. Several more are likely to take place, however, with an October debate likely to occur in Alabama, according to a person familiar with the operations of the Republican National Committee.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Kim Reynolds, Evelyn Hockstein, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Mike Pence, Chris Christie, Doug Burgum, Asa Hutchinson, Martha MacCallum, Bret Baier, Trump, Gram Slattery, Ross Colvin, Alistair Bell Organizations: Republican, Iowa, Fair, REUTERS, Rights, Fox News, Democratic, WHO, Trump, New, Republican National Committee, Thomson Locations: Iowa, Des Moines , Iowa, U.S, Milwaukee, Fox News . Wisconsin, Florida, New Jersey, North Dakota, Arkansas, California, Alabama

WASHINGTON, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Eight top Republican presidential contenders will take part on Wednesday in the first debate of the 2024 primary election cycle. All major Republican candidates will be present with one major exception: former President Donald Trump. They are also required to sign a pledge certifying that they will support the eventual Republican nominee. In some cases, during previous primary campaigns, poor performances have sunk candidacies, while strong performances have launched minor candidates into the top tier. Several more are likely, with an October debate likely to occur in Alabama, according to a person familiar with the operations of the Republican National Committee.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson, Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Asa Hutchinson, Chris Christie, Doug Burgum, Kim Reynolds, Evelyn Hockstein, Martha MacCallum, Bret Baier, Trump, Gram Slattery, Susan Heavey, Ross Colvin, Alistair Bell, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Fox News, Democratic, WHO, Republican, Trump, Florida, New, North Dakota, Iowa, Fair, REUTERS, Republican National Committee, Thomson Locations: Milwaukee, Fox News . Wisconsin, U.S, Tim Scott , Arkansas, New Jersey, North, Iowa, Des Moines , Iowa, California, Alabama

Playing a quiet but important role in shaping the governor's remarks was the Washington-based Heritage Foundation, America's top conservative think tank, according to two people with knowledge of their interactions. The range and frequency of those discussions with DeSantis' campaign have not been previously reported. In addition to Carmack, the policy director, at least seven other Heritage staffers have taken positions in the DeSantis campaign. Whether DeSantis' connection to the think tank has been helpful for his campaign is an open question. Following the controversial March 13 statement, Heritage officials had a suggestion for the campaign, according to one person with knowledge of the discussions.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Kevin Roberts, Tucker Carlson, DeSantis, Donald Trump, Bryan Griffin, Heritage, Griffin, Generra Peck, Trump, Noah Weinrich, Weinrich, Roberts, Dustin Carmack, Carmack, Steve Bradbury, Bradbury, Joe Biden's, David Dewhirst, Gram Slattery, Ross Colvin, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Florida, The Heritage Foundation, Gaylord National Resort, Center, REUTERS, Sarah, Fox News, Heritage Foundation, Senior Heritage, Heritage, Republican, TALLAHASSEE, Mar, Trump, Justice Department, Department of Education, FBI, Department of Transportation, Democratic Party, Top Heritage, Economic, Reuters, Republican Party, Fox Nation, Thomson Locations: National Harbor, M.D, WASHINGTON, Florida, Ukraine, United States, Washington, U.S, Russia, China, Milwaukee, Tallahassee , Florida, Tallahassee

[1/2] Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis speaks next to Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds during a "Fair-Side Chat" hosted by the governor at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., August 12, 2023. The DeSantis campaign, Never Back Down and Axiom did not immediately respond to requests for comment. DeSantis' campaign, which is in charge of the Florida governor's debate preparations, is under no obligation to accept Never Back Down's advice, and it is unclear if they will. Trump, who is by far the frontrunner, has said he is unlikely to take part in the debate, which will take place in Milwaukee. That leaves DeSantis as the top target on the stage, even as his hold on second place is shrinking.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Kim Reynolds, Evelyn Hockstein, Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, Joe Biden, Ramaswamy, lobbed, Chris Christie, Trump, Christie, DeSantis, Gram Slattery, James Oliphant, Ross Colvin Organizations: Republican, Iowa, Fair, REUTERS, Rights, The New York Times, Trump, New, DeSantis, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Iowa, Des Moines , Iowa, U.S, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Florida, Milwaukee

DeSantis' camp on Tuesday announced that it was ousting campaign manager Generra Peck and bringing in two top outside strategists. Replacing Peck, who is now the campaign's chief strategist, is James Uthmeier, previously the governor's chief of staff. Campaign insiders and donors say the replacement of Peck is unlikely to quell anxiety about the direction of DeSantis' campaign. NEW CAMPAIGN MANAGER, SAME STRATEGYUthmeier's appointment had been in the works for weeks, said one person close to the process. "With him, the governor has basically imposed his will in Tallahassee," said another person close to Uthmeier, referring to Florida's capital city.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Scott Brown, Reba Saldanha, DeSantis, Generra Peck, Peck, James Uthmeier, Donald Trump, Robert Bigelow, Bigelow, James, Uthmeier, Trump, David Polyansky, Marc Reichelderfer, Gram Slattery, Ross Colvin, Alistair Bell Organizations: Republican U.S, REUTERS, Republican, Reuters, Republican Party, Thomson Locations: Florida, Rye , New Hampshire, U.S, Utah, Tallahassee, Iowa

Republican presidential candidate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, delivers remarks at the annual Christians United for Israel Summit (CUFI), at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., July 17, 2023. "Governor DeSantis has to change the dynamics," Eberhart said. DeSantis faces a crucial moment on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee at the first Republican debate of the 2024 campaign. "This is par for the course for DeSantis' campaigns," Ayres said. Republican Senator John McCain, for instance, fired almost all of his senior campaign staff in June 2007 before staging a comeback and ultimately clinching the 2008 Republican nomination.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Kevin Wurm, Donald Trump, Generra Peck, James Uthmeier, Andrew Romeo, Dan Eberhart, Peck, Uthmeier, DeSantis, Eberhart, Joe Biden, Trump's, Wilbur Ross, Romeo, Robert Bigelow, Bigelow, Trump, David Polyansky, Whit Ayres, Ayres, John McCain, Gram Slattery, Alexandra Ulmer, Tim Reid, Ross Colvin, Will Dunham Organizations: Florida, United, Israel Summit, Crystal Gateway Marriott, REUTERS, Republican U.S, Republican, Democratic, Reuters, Trump, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, San Francisco, Los Angeles

Republican presidential candidate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, delivers remarks at the annual Christians United for Israel Summit (CUFI), at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., July 17, 2023. "Governor DeSantis has to change the dynamics," Eberhart said. DeSantis faces a crucial moment on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee at the first Republican debate of the 2024 campaign. It is unclear what direction Uthmeier will take the DeSantis campaign as its new manager. "This is par for the course for DeSantis' campaigns," Ayres said.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Kevin Wurm, Donald Trump, Generra Peck, James Uthmeier, Andrew Romeo, Robert Bigelow, Bigelow, Peck, Joe Biden, Trump, DeSantis, Romeo, David Polyansky, Dan Eberhart, Uthmeier, Eberhart, Wilbur Ross, Whit Ayres, Ayres, Gram Slattery, Alexandra Ulmer, Tim Reid, Scott Malone, Will Dunham Organizations: Florida, United, Israel Summit, Crystal Gateway Marriott, REUTERS, Republican U.S, Reuters, Republican, Democratic, Trump, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, Florida, Milwaukee, Washington, San Francisco, Los Angeles

Complicating the matter for DeSantis: Trump, the front-runner in the race by far, appears unwilling to provide him with a target. Rival campaigns smell blood in the water as DeSantis has faced questions over profligate campaign spending and his readiness for the national stage. In the most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, released last week, Trump held 47% of the Republican vote nationally, with DeSantis dropping six points from July down to just 13%. Rick Santorum, a former U.S. senator and Republican presidential candidate who participated in a series of debates in the 2012 election, said DeSantis will need to be ready for an “onslaught” of attacks. “If I was on that stage, I would be going after Trump,” Santorum said.

Persons: Ron Desantis, Tucker Carlson, Scott Morgan, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump, Trump, DeSantis, Nikki Haley, ”, Robert Bigelow, Rick Santorum, Santorum, “, ” Santorum, Justin Sayfie, Jeb Bush, ” Sayfie, Charlie Crist, Haley, Doug Burgum, Chris Christie, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Mike Pence, Pence, Christie, “ That’s, ” Aaron Kall, It’s, ” Kall, Marco Rubio, James Oliphant, Gram Slattery, Colleen Jenkins, Alistair Bell Organizations: Former Fox, Iowa Events Center, REUTERS, Florida Governor, Trump, Republican, United Nations, Reuters, Harvard Law School, TRUMP, New, University of Michigan, Thomson Locations: Florida, Des Moines , Iowa, U.S, Milwaukee, Haley , North Dakota, New Jersey

[1/3] Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis speaks at the Republican Party of Iowa's Lincoln Day Dinner in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., July 28, 2023. China is mentioned daily at campaign stops, in digital ads and in policy speeches by the various Republican candidates. Some 50% of Americans identify China as the greatest threat to the United States, according to a Pew Research poll released in late July. On the stump, they have said the United States must stand by Ukraine. If the United States does not confront Russia, they say, China will feel emboldened.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Scott Morgan, Democratic Biden, DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, Tim Scott, Trump, Terry Sullivan, Marco Rubio's, Joe Biden, Pew, Haley, Scott, Jamieson Greer, King, Wendy Cutler, Mike Pence, Gram Slattery, David Lawder, Michael Martina, Ross Colvin, Alistair Bell Organizations: Florida Governor, Republican, Republican Party of Iowa's, REUTERS, Democratic, East, Newsweek, Justice Department, Pew Research, Trade, Spalding, U.S . Trade Representative, Trump, Heritage Foundation, Russia, China, American Enterprise Institute, Thomson Locations: Des Moines , Iowa, U.S, ROCHESTER , New Hampshire, China, United States, America, Communist China, Russia, Iran, Beijing, Washington, Ukraine

The four-count, 45-page indictment charges Republican Trump with conspiring to defraud the U.S. by preventing Congress from certifying Democrat Joe Biden's victory and to deprive voters of their right to a fair election. The charges stem from Special Counsel Jack Smith's sprawling investigation into allegations Trump sought to reverse his loss to Biden. "President Trump will not be deterred by disgraceful and unprecedented political targeting!" [1/5]Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S., July 29, 2023. Tuesday's charges represent a second round of federal charges by Smith, who was appointed special counsel in November by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden's, Mike Pence, Tanya Chutkan, Barack Obama, Jack Smith's, Biden, Weeks, Smith, Trump's, Rudy Giuliani, Jeffrey Clark, John Eastman, Pence, Lindsay DeDario, Giuliani, Robert Costello, Eastman, Charles Burnham, Clark, General Merrick Garland, Stormy Daniels, Kevin McCarthy, Ron DeSantis, Fani Willis, Garland, Jacqueline Thomsen, Sarah N, Lynch, Rami Ayyub, Andrew Goudsward, Luc Cohen, Jack Queen, Kanishka Singh, Dan Whitcomb, Costas Pitas, Mike Scarcella, Tim Reid, Jeff Mason, Gram Slattery, Joseph Ax, Scott Malone, Will Dunham, Howard Goller, Grant McCool, Michael Perry Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Republican, ., Trump, Congress, Justice, REUTERS, Reuters, Presidential, TRUMP, REPUBLICAN, Republicans, Democratic, Justice Department, Thomson Locations: American, Washington, U.S, Washington ,, Nazi Germany, Georgia, Erie , Pennsylvania, Miami, Manhattan's, Florida, Fulton County, The Hague, Kosovo, New York

[1/2] Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S., July 29, 2023. More than a dozen Republican voters interviewed on Wednesday unanimously said the new charges would not affect their 2024 election choice. These voters seemed to accept Trump's contention that he is being targeted by Democrats because he is a political threat. "The only way I'd vote for anyone other than Trump is if Trump dropped dead before the primaries, and I don't see that happening," Silver said. The Republican voters who spoke to Reuters appeared unmoved by arguments by Trump's rivals that he likely would lose a November 2024 rematch with Biden.

Persons: Donald Trump, Lindsay DeDario, Trump, Joe Biden, Robin Bartholomew, Bruce Silver, Silver, Brian Demer, Ron DeSantis, Biden, Steven Wolverton, delegitimize Trump, Trump . Sharon Young, Young, Gram Slattery, Jasper Ward, Jason Lange, James Oliphant, Will Dunham, Colleen Jenkins Organizations: U.S, Republican, REUTERS, Democratic, Trump, New York Times, Florida, Reuters, Coca, Trump ., Newport, Thomson Locations: Erie , Pennsylvania, U.S, Van Buren County , Iowa, Myrtle Beach , South Carolina, Washington, United States, New York, Georgia, Loudoun County , Virginia, what's, Siena, St, Charles , Michigan, Trump, Newport News , Virginia

The four-count, 45-page indictment charges Republican Trump with conspiring to defraud the U.S. by preventing Congress from certifying Democrat Joe Biden's victory and to deprive voters of their right to a fair election. The charges stem from Special Counsel Jack Smith's sprawling investigation into allegations Trump sought to reverse his loss to Biden. The indictment lays out numerous examples of Trump's election falsehoods and notes that close advisers, including senior intelligence officials, told him repeatedly that the election results were legitimate. "President Trump will not be deterred by disgraceful and unprecedented political targeting!" Tuesday's charges represent a second round of federal charges by Smith, who was appointed a special counsel in November by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden's, Mike Pence, Tanya Chutkan, Barack Obama, Jack Smith's, Biden, Weeks, Smith, Rudy Giuliani, Jeffrey Clark, John Eastman, Pence, Lindsay DeDario, Ted Goodman, Clark, Eastman, General Merrick Garland, Stormy Daniels, Kevin McCarthy, Ron DeSantis, Trump's, Fani Willis, Garland, Jacqueline Thomsen, Sarah N, Lynch, Rami Ayyub, Andrew Goudsward, Luc Cohen, Jack Queen, Kanishka Singh, Dan Whitcomb, Costas Pitas, Mike Scarcella, Tim Reid, Jeff Mason, Gram Slattery, Joseph Ax, Scott Malone, Will Dunham, Howard Goller, Grant McCool Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Republican, ., Trump, Congress, Justice, REUTERS, TRUMP, REPUBLICAN, Republicans, Democratic, Justice Department, Thomson Locations: American, Washington, U.S, Washington ,, Nazi Germany, Georgia, Erie , Pennsylvania, Miami, Manhattan's, Florida, Fulton County, The Hague, Kosovo, New York

ROCHESTER, New Hampshire, July 31 (Reuters) - U.S. Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis took an aggressive swipe at China, railed against what he described as corporate bailouts, and said he would rein in the Federal Reserve in an economic policy speech on Monday. DeSantis was particularly harsh on China and the technology sector which he accused of enriching the East Asian nation to the detriment of Americans. The U.S. Senate voted in 2000 to grant the status to China as it prepared to join the World Trade Organization. "They said if you granted China special trading status and put them in the World Trade Organization, that China would become more democratic," he said. In written bullet points released alongside the speech, DeSantis' campaign said he would appoint a chair of the Federal Reserve "who will focus on maintaining a stable dollar instead of the political pressures of the day."

Persons: Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, we've, Jerome Powell, Gram Slattery, James Oliphant, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Republican, Federal Reserve, Republican Party, U.S, Senate, World Trade Organization, Federal, Fed, Thomson Locations: ROCHESTER , New Hampshire, China, New Hampshire, U.S, United States, Rochester, Washington

Such was the first day of DeSantis' "reboot" of his campaign in New Hampshire, the No. Before DeSantis began his speech, Michael Lunder, a 67-year-old businessman, said he was "probably going to support (DeSantis) financially." "I learned a few things that I didn't agree with, but, in general, I think I might support him," Lunder concluded. CAMPAIGN REBOOTIn the last two weeks, the DeSantis campaign has undergone a shake-up both in style and personnel, according to several people close to the campaign. He disagreed with DeSantis' position that support for Ukraine in its war with Russia is not a vital U.S. national security interest.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, sidled, Donald Trump, DeSantis, Scott Brown, Michael Lunder, Lunder, Frank Cimler, Joe Biden, Cimler, Gram Slattery, Ross Colvin, Howard Goller Organizations: Republican, U.S, Reuters, Democratic, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: RYE , New Hampshire, Florida, New Hampshire, Iowa, Trump's, COVID, Russia, U.S

WASHINGTON, July 25 (Reuters) - Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign said on Tuesday it had let go of 38 employees in recent weeks, or over one-third of the campaign's staff, as the Florida governor seeks to cut spending and rally his flagging electoral fortunes. DeSantis, who is vying for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is in second place in the large Republican field, but he remains far behind former President Donald Trump, the front-runner. "Following a top-to-bottom review of our organization, we have taken additional, aggressive steps to streamline operations and put Ron DeSantis in the strongest position to win this primary and defeat Joe Biden," DeSantis' campaign manager, Generra Peck, said in a statement. While DeSantis' campaign raised about $20 million in the second quarter, allies were concerned about how fast he burned through that cash. The campaign had more than 90 paid staffers in the second quarter, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission, an unusually high number for this stage in a presidential campaign.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Generra Peck, Biden, Gram Slattery, Ross Colvin, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Republican, Democratic, Federal, Commission, Thomson Locations: Florida

DeSantis is scheduled to visit Iowa on Friday, his third trip to the state since declaring his presidential bid. His wife, Casey DeSantis, last week traveled to Iowa to launch a national "Mamas for DeSantis" campaign focused on parental rights, hoping to win over the swing vote of suburban Republican women. DeSantis' supporters are also emphasizing what they see as the similarities between DeSantis and Kim Reynolds, Iowa's popular Republican governor, said one person close to the campaign. "The campaign has the most sophisticated and experienced team ever in Iowa, and is poised to crush DeSantis," Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said. A dearth of reliable polling in Iowa makes it difficult to assess the real strength of both DeSantis and Trump in the state.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump's, DeSantis, Trump, Chris Stirewalt, Stirewalt, Ted Cruz, Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, Steve Cortes, Donald Trump, They've, Ryan Frederick, Mike Pence, Tim Scott, Casey DeSantis, Kim Reynolds, Iowa's, Reynolds, Steven Cheung, Ann Selzer, Selzer, James Oliphant, Gram Slattery, Alexandra Ulmer, Ross Colvin, Alistair Bell Organizations: Republican, Trump, American Enterprise Institute, Arkansas, Fox Business, Republican Party, Iowa, Thomson Locations: Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina, U.S, Trump, Adair County

[1/3] US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during her meeting with China's Vice Premier He Lifeng (out of frame) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on July 8, 2023. Yellen said nothing publicly to indicate that the U.S. was poised to ease tariffs, but commentators in China were hopeful, amid a U.S. Trade Representative review. "While U.S might continue its technological curbs on China, a reduction or exemption of non-core tariffs against China is possible." Yellen last year advocated eliminating some duties on "non-strategic" goods as a way to ease some specific costs amid high inflation. Haley has said she would push Congress to revoke China’s trade status until China curbs its alleged role in the fentanyl trade.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Lifeng, Pedro PARDO, Janet Yellen's, Biden, Harry Broadman, Donald Trump's, Premier Li Qiang, Yellen, Hong Hao, Chad Bown, " Bown, Josh Hawley, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Haley, Donald Trump, David Lawder, Andrea Shalal, Gram Slattery, Jeff Mason, Heather Timmons, Nick Zieminski Organizations: China's, WASHINGTON, . Treasury, Trump, White House, World Bank, Berkeley Research, Premier, U.S . Treasury, . Trade, China's Finance, U.S, Grow Investment, Times, Peterson Institute of International Economics, Reuters, Republican, Firebrand, Thomson Locations: Diaoyutai, Beijing, China, U.S, Washington, U.s, Donald Trump's China, CHINA, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Florida, Mexico, Cuba

WASHINGTON, June 28 (Reuters) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis would seek to eliminate the Departments of Energy, Commerce and Education, as well as the Internal Revenue Service, if he were elected president, he suggested in a television interview on Wednesday. The Department of Education in particular has been a target for conservatives, and former President Donald Trump has also called for its abolition. DeSantis' embrace of eliminating major federal agencies early in the Republican presidential primary underlines the emphasis his campaign has put on radically downsizing the federal bureaucracy. The Florida governor has consistently trailed Trump in public opinion polls, but his level of support is higher than that of the rest of the Republican pack. About 43% of Republicans backed Trump in a June 9-12 Reuters/Ipsos poll, compared with 22% supporting DeSantis.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Martha MacCallum, we'll, Donald Trump, Gram Slattery, Gerry Doyle Organizations: of Energy, Commerce, Education, Internal Revenue Service, we'd, IRS, Fox News, Republicans, of Education, Republican, Trump, Thomson Locations: Florida

Now the Trump campaign is advocating for modifications in half a dozen additional states, his co-campaign manager told Reuters. LaCivita confirmed that Nevada - an early primary state with a Trump-friendly state Republican leadership - was one of the campaign's targets. A source close to the Nevada Republican Party told Reuters - prior to the lawsuit - that Trump's campaign was lobbying for a caucus. A source close to the Republican state party in Idaho told Reuters that Trump allies had been lobbying to hold a nominating contest before May. There are an estimated 2,467 delegates up for grabs in the 2024 Republican state-by-state nominating battle.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Chris LaCivita, LaCivita, Joe Biden's shakeup, Biden, Jason Roe, Roe, DESANTIS, Ron DeSantis, You've, DeSantis, Tim Reid, Colleen Jenkins, Alistair Bell Organizations: Reuters, Republican, Trump, Nevada Republican Party, . Idaho Republicans, Democratic National Committee, Black, Republicans, Democratic Party, Republican National Committee, RNC, Florida, Thomson Locations: Michigan, Nevada, Idaho, Carolina, Georgia, Iowa, Virginia, Idaho , Nevada, Alabama, Missouri

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