Is DeSantis’ book a ‘soft launch’ for a presidential campaign?

Governor Ron DeSantis is getting ready to release a new book in what some believe will be a soft launch for his 2024 presidential campaign. Ahead of the release of his new memoir, DeSantis released a new advertisement,

In the ad, he claims that Florida has been a refuge of sanity and a citadel of freedom. He says Florida is proof that we the people are not destined for failure. The governor’s ad also says Florida ranks first in economic freedom, education freedom, and public higher education.

The release of this book could mean that the announcement to run for president is just around the corner.

Aubrey Jewett, a politics professor at UCF, says there is no doubt about it and thinks the governor’s ad is an effective way to do it.

Jewett said Governor DeSantis not only emphasizes what the Republican base wants, but he also sells “Freedom” to gain nationwide traction.

“Florida’s success has been made more difficult by the floundering federal establishment in Washington D.C., the inflationary spending binge that has left our nation weaker, and our citizens poor,” said the DeSantis advertisement.

DeSantis calls the ad “Freedom is worth fighting for.” He boils his mission down in one minute and 50 seconds. “When the world lost its mind when common sense suddenly became an uncommon virtue. Florida was a refuge of sanity, a citadel of freedom for our fellow Americans and even for people around the world,” says the ad.

Paired with his book, “The Courage to be Free. Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival,” set to be released Tuesday, Jewett said, “These are ways that he can continue to be in the public eye and continue to run for the Republican nomination for president without actually officially announcing that he’s running yet.”

What else is clear to Jewett? The effectiveness of the video. “Effective campaigns usually have a theme that is popular and that people can relate to. And it’s clear that for some time, DeSantis’ main theme has been freedom, right? The freedom state.”

DeSantis says he is ready and able to defeat the man he says challenges our freedom, President Biden. “It has enacted pandemic restrictions and mandates; it has recklessly facilitated open borders. It has imposed an energy policy that has crippled our nation’s domestic production.”

“He’s trying to re-emphasize those things that his core supporters already like and introduce himself, potentially, maybe to some new folks,” said Jewett.

As far as introducing himself to some “New folks,” the governor will hit the road. He’ll be in Houston Friday and Dallas Saturday.

The Texas trip comes after visiting Democratic strongholds New York, Chicago, and Philadephia recently.