Trump To Fend Off DeSantis At CPAC

Former President Donald Trump will continue his strengthening 2024 campaign when delivers the keynote address at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

• Trump's CPAC appearance will be only his second visit to Washington DC since he left office and comes as polls suggest that Republicans are more inclined to support Trump over rival Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) despite a wobble which followed the US midterms last year saw DeSantis surge into contention.
• DeSantis, and most of the Republican establishment, have declined to attend CPAC with critics dismissing the conference as an extension of Trump's "MAGA" movement.
• Bloomberg writes: "The former president will likely again win the CPAC straw poll of its participants’ preference for the GOP nominee in the 2024 presidential election, but the performance of his challengers — especially DeSantis — will be closely watched."
• John McLaughlin, a GOP pollster who sits on the CPAC board, said: “The voters are still kicking the tires right now. They have confidence in Trump, they have confidence in his policies. It’s just like what happened eight years ago: Now you’ve got to go out and ask for their vote.”