Bob Vander Plaats announced on Tuesday he is endorsing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for President of the United States of America. Vander Plaats announced on Fox News.
“We need to find somebody who can win in 2024, and what we saw in 2022, the supposedly Red Wave, really only happened in Florida and in Iowa,” Vander Plaats said. “Gov. DeSantis took a reliable, toss-up state in Florida and made it complete red, won by 20 points, won in demographics that we haven’t won in. But he’s also done that by being a bold and courageous leader.”
Vander Plaats said it was DeSantis’ endorsement to lose. And at last Friday’s Thanksgiving Forum, DeSantis “closed the sale” for Vander Plaats.
Mike Huckabee was endorsed by Vander Plaats in 2008. Rick Santorum was endorsed in 2012. Ted Cruz was endorsed in 2016. All three won in Iowa, but none of them won the White House.
“In this time, Iowa is ground zero,” Vander Plaats said. “If you upend the former President here, I think we’re going to offer America a choice between President Trump and say a Gov. Ron DeSantis. If President Trump wins Iowa here, I think it’s going to be awfully hard to make the case that you can beat President Trump and he’s going to be the eventual nominee.”
Vander Plaats said Iowa is “tailor-made” for DeSantis to win Iowa.
Vander Plaats denied that his endorsement has ever been for sale and noted it has nothing to do with any money The FAMiLY Leader received.
“We believe 2024 is the most important election of our lifetime,” Vander Plaats said. “We believe we need to choose and choose well. So I think you’d want to go to an experienced leader who has accomplished results versus somebody that, I truly believe he may be able to win the nomination in President Trump but I don’t think America is going to elect him President again.”
Vander Plaats acknowledged that The FAMiLY Leader Foundation received $95,000 from a DeSantis-linked Super PAC and non-profit group supporting DeSantis.
“It’s definitely true,” Vander Plaats said. “Everything we do is above board and in sunlight. We have a Leadership Summit that’s a major thing. IRS rules prevent us from giving donations to a campaign or giving access to a campaign.”
Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy and others had to pay for attending a program similar to DeSantis, Vander Plaats said.
We need to find somebody who can win in 2024, and that's why I'm endorsing @RonDeSantis. pic.twitter.com/lV7Zjye3qw
— Bob Vander Plaats (@bobvanderplaats) November 22, 2023
