Ron DeSantis: The Likable Jokester

With the first Republican presidential debate of the 2024 campaign cycle just a day or so away, the narrative that Governor Ron DeSantis' detractors and political opponents in the primary race have been pushing is that the popular governor from Florida is not relatable and likable.

Former President Donald Trump has been jabbing Gov. DeSantis as not being likable for months, and his online influencers have been amplifying the 'Be Likable Ron' campaign narrative at nauseum.

To his credit, DeSantis has been pressing the flesh a lot more after rebooting his presidential campaign, a campaign that got off on an almost cataclysmic start.

Now Publisher Javier Manjarres, who has held a very friendly relationship with DeSantis' since early 2012, posted a video to social media on a couple of his recent interactions with DeSantis during campaign stops in Iowa and South Carolina.

In the first clip, DeSantis enters his first campaign event in Sioux Falls, Iowa poking fun at Manjarres about his immigration status.

Funny.

The second clip is of DeSantis at a South Carolina event mucking it up with Manjarres as he shook hands, signed autographs, and posed for pictures along a rope line.

A snarky Manjarres says in the video that DeSantis is a funny and likable guy, kinda.

"Yes, his jokes fall flat and they're drier than hell, and maybe they don't come off as funny, but he is a likable guy," said Manjarres.

"They allowed you to come to Iowa, man? Don't they have some type of immigration," joked DeSantis