Aiexpress – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made a visit to the South Carolina State House on Tuesday, further fueling speculation about his potential White House ambitions. During his visit, DeSantis advocated for other states to support Florida’s push for a constitutional convention. Interestingly, he started his lobbying efforts in a state where he is currently listed on the Presidential Primary ballot, despite having already withdrawn from the race.
Ever since he ended his presidential campaign on January 21, DeSantis has been directing his attention towards national matters. He has been actively addressing issues like the border crisis and advocating for federal government reforms. Notably, DeSantis recently declared that Florida will be sending additional members of the Florida National Guard to the border. In addition, he has been actively advocating for a set of constitutional amendments.
During a conference with South Carolina state lawmakers in Charlotte, the Florida Republican emphasized the importance of states urging Congress to convene a constitutional convention to establish term limits for federal lawmakers.
“The ability to propose changes to discipline Washington lies with the people in the states. The Constitution was deliberately structured by the Founding Fathers in such a way,” DeSantis emphasized.
Earlier this year, the Florida Legislature approved resolutions to request constitutional conventions.
If identical petitions are approved by two-thirds of the state governments, which is equivalent to 34 out of the current 50 states, it would lead to the convening of the first constitutional convention since the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.
In the Constitution, Article V outlines two methods for ratifying amendments. Throughout the history of the nation, all constitutional amendments have been approved using the same process: Congress proposes amendments, which are then ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures.
DeSantis supports an alternative process that shifts power from the federal government to the state level. If two-thirds of the Legislatures request a convention, it must take place. Florida recently became the 16th state to advocate for a convention on term limits.
In addition, it has also become the 26th state to advocate for a balanced budget, as mentioned by DeSantis during his visit to South Carolina. The Legislature is currently considering two other petitions. One of them aims to prevent members of Congress from passing laws that exempt federal lawmakers from regulations imposed on citizens. The other petition seeks to grant U.S. Presidents the power of line-item veto on federal budgets.
DeSantis revealed that supporters of term limits had specifically requested him to engage with lawmakers who were reviewing petitions in other states. He further mentioned that he had discussed the matter with lawmakers in Indiana on the same day he made an appearance in South Carolina.
“I’ve been telling people who support the idea of term limits that I’m ready to assist in any way possible,” DeSantis expressed. “Whether it means traveling across the country to engage with state legislators or offering my insights, I’m more than willing to contribute.”
During his official visit to South Carolina, DeSantis garnered significant attention, with the focus primarily on a federal election rather than the Constitution.
DeSantis spent a significant portion of the previous year campaigning for President. However, he decided to suspend his campaign in January, shortly after coming in second place to former President Donald Trump in the Iowa caucuses.
Candidate qualification in states occurs well in advance of the Presidential Primaries, so the candidate remains on the ballot, even in South Carolina. On Saturday, Feb. 24, the Palmetto State will hold its Republican Presidential Primary, where 50 delegates are at stake in a winner-takes-all contest.
In all polls, Trump is expected to win and is currently leading former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, the only other major contender seeking the GOP nomination.
Speculation has been rampant regarding DeSantis’ intentions amidst Trump’s ongoing legal issues. The question arises: will he still aim to perform well in the ongoing Primaries and caucuses? This strategic move would position him to make a strong bid for the nomination at a brokered Republican National Convention.
According to Gregory Koger, a political science professor at the University of Miami, he believes that there is a possibility that the individual in question is conducting a covert campaign to maintain their eligibility for a future presidential run. This statement was made during an interview with USA TODAY Network – Florida.
During the press conference on Tuesday, DeSantis was asked about his motivations for visiting South Carolina so close to the presidential primary. In response, he stated that it was not about positioning himself for the 2028 presidential campaign.
DeSantis expressed his commitment to utilizing his platform to support the implementation of term limits. He stated, “When I was running, I said I would use the bully pulpit to help do this. Well, now that we’re here, I’ve told supportive individuals of the term limits movement to put me in. If there’s a way I can be helpful, such as speaking to different individuals in state legislative chambers across the country, I’m more than willing to do so.”
“He declared, ‘In my opinion, the Primary is concluded,'” he stated definitively.
