Why Casey DeSantis can be a double-edged sword in her husband's battle for the White House

Casey DeSantis has a touch of charm and poise that she's learned from her years as a local broadcaster. Photo: Sean Rayford

Seated next to her husband and speaking to Republican supporters in Iowa earlier this month, Casey DeSantis looked like a presidential candidate just like her wife.

With a touch of charm and With the poise she's learned from her years as a local broadcaster, Mrs. DeSantis spoke enthusiastically about the work she's done as First Lady of Florida. Her focus was on cancer research, mental health, and education.

But she was most forceful when it came to discussing the man sitting next to her, now seeking the White House at the young age of 44.< /p>

Mr. DeSantis—or «The Governor,» as she called him—was «the American dream come true,» she explained, as she worked his way from a middle-class home to the Ivy League, the Navy, Congress, and then the Governor's Mansion.

As the father of their three young children, she told an audience at a hotel in Cedar Rapids that he fought just as hard for our children as he fights for your families.»

42-year-old G Ms. DeSantis assured GOP members, «He's the one you see behind the podium when he's at home.»

Mr. DeSantis and his wife Casey address GOP supporters in Iowa earlier in May. Photo: Charlie Neubergall

This is the softer side of the 2024 presidential candidate hoping his wife is on stage. Appearance is meant to demonstrate: a decisive counterbalance to Mr. DeSantis' much-discussed tough and clumsy demeanor.

«A huge plus»

Supporters of Mr. DeSantis call his wife a «huge asset.» and plans to use her during his 2024 presidential campaign.

"She is extremely intelligent and insightful, as well as warm and thoughtful at the same time" This was reported to The Telegraph by Dan Eberhart, a major donor to DeSantis. «She's really going to beef up Governor De Santis.» candidate."

The telegenic young mother seems to be more than up to the task. In her own words, she is ready to «move mountains to help him.»

And to emphasize her leading role, it was Mrs. DeSantis.» The Twitter account, not her husband's, accompanied the launch of the 2024 campaign with a teaser on Tuesday night.

America is worth the fight… Everyone. Lonely. Time. pic.twitter.com/lWNQ3DIXgp

— Casey DeSantis (@CaseyDeSantis), May 23, 2023

"Great if it's true" she wrote, along with a link to a post about his imminent announcement and a teasing emoji.

Local celebrity

Mrs. DeSantis is familiar with the campaign. The couple first met at a Florida driving range in 2006 and married at Disneyland in 2009.

Born and raised in Ohio, the daughter of an optometrist and speech therapist, Jill Casey Black moved to Jacksonville. , Florida to get a job as a local news anchor.

The couple got married in 2009

Something of a local celebrity, she began using her married name on television when her husband was preparing to run for Congress in 2012.

She accompanied him on the doorstep, regularly recognizing voters, and in the person of Mr. DeSantis No. 39; own story, boosting his profile.

The couple have daughters Madison, five, and Mamie, two, as well as four-year-old son Mason. Children are featured prominently at DeSantis' political campaigns are a generational contrast with 76-year-old Donald Trump.

At 44, DeSantis is only a year older than President John F. Kennedy when he entered the White House.

DeSantis with three children couples. Credit: Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire

But it was Mrs. DeSantis who drew comparisons to Kennedy, her pastel-colored dresses and white gloves reminiscent of Jackie Onasse. style.

Shortly after the birth of her youngest, Mrs. DeSantis was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She revealed she was cancer-free in early 2022, detailing her struggles and supporting her husband in a moving advertisement for his re-election campaign later that year.

'Blindly ambitious'

Her center stage in Mr. DeSantis' eyes' The strategic work has earned her praise and criticism in equal measure. Supporters describe her as a shrewd political observer who is at ease in the spotlight that inevitably accompanies running for high office.

But critics say the couple's distrust of outside strategists and her influence over policy decisions led them to make reckless and preventable mistakes early on.

One former employee told Politico that Mrs. DeSantis was more &#34 «blindly ambitious” than her husband. Such is her involvement in her husband's career, some in their circle reportedly refer to them as «DeSanti.»

Roger Stone, a Republican strategist and ardent Trump supporter, put it as an exaggeration. — and vicious — terms.

"Have you ever noticed how strong Ron DeSantis' Does Casey's wife look like Lady Macbeth?" he asked followers on social media last October.

Mrs. DeSantis is ready to play a major role in her husband's affairs. presidential race Photo: AFP

Even supporters such as Mr. Eberhart have expressed concern that her success in Florida has caused Ms. DeSantis to reassess her ability to be a driving force in the presidential campaign.

Mr. Eberhart is more circumspect in his comments while speaking to The Telegraph on the eve of the launch of the DeSantis campaign.

"I think he has expanded his team of advisors&#34 ; He said. "But Casey is his most important confidante"

Unlike Mr. DeSantis' rivals, his wife will feature prominently in the long and grueling campaigns ahead.

While Melania Trump is likely to remain in Mar-a-Lago, Ms. DeSantis is expected to be pleased . hand out to voters in New Hampshire or frequent barbecues in Iowa.

Among those in the audience for the DeSantises' Earlier this month, Steve Scheffler, president of the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, showed up in Cedar Rapids.

He described Mrs. DeSantis as a «natural» person. on stage where the couple participated in a Q&A session.

"Her answers probably dominated 65% of this conversation" He said. "I think people were very impressed"