Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) continues to fuel presidential speculation this week, embarking on a "pro-police" tour, visiting places like New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia.
The Florida Governor has maintained that Florida is a "law and order" state, and he's encouraging officers to move to the sunshine state, offering them support and protection.
Governor DeSantis shared pictures on social media from his stops in Staten Island, New York and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He spoke from a podium donning the tagline "Florida Leading the way" as he discussed his own support for officers and what Florida has done to protect law enforcement.
"I visited NYC, Chicago, and Philadelphia to meet with the men and women of law enforcement and to discuss Florida's commitment to law and order," said Governor DeSantis, adding that "woke policies enacted by leftist politicians have proven to be disastrous and these cities need to embrace law and order policies and support the police."
I visited NYC, Chicago, & Philadelphia to meet with the men & women of law enforcement to discuss FL's commitment to law & order.
Woke policies enacted by Leftist politicians have proven to be disastrous & these cities need to embrace law & order policies & support the police. pic.twitter.com/qvv71iryVP
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantisFL) February 21, 2023
In another post, DeSantis commented that he had visited "Staten Island to recruit more police officers to FL and to talk about how law and order has been central to Florida's success."
I visited Staten Island to talk about how law & order has been central to FL's success.
FL leads the nation in protecting LEOs & our crime rate is at a 50-year low, while NYC saw a 23% surge in major crime in 2022.
Anti-police politicians should stop catering to the woke mob. pic.twitter.com/FpFDy0V4DZ
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantisFL) February 20, 2023
He explained that "FL leads the nation in protecting law enforcement & our crime rate is at a 50-year low, while NYC saw a 23% surge in major crime in 2022." "Anti-police politicians should stop catering to the woke mob," he added.
Highlighting "Florida's Freedom Blueprint," the Governor assured attendees that "the foundation of Florida's success has been law and order and support of the people who wear the uniform."
If officers decide to move to Florida, DeSantis has vowed to provide them a "home" where they can wear their uniform and "keep communities safe." Comments such as this has caused responses from Democrats like California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), who argues that California is the true "free state" of the U.S.
Both have been involved in a rivalry that has directed attention to a possible presidential run from Newsom.
