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The presidential candidate’s handbook is clear. No later than a year or two before the election, the candidate in question must write a heartening autobiography outlining his or her vision for America. Ron DeSantis, who is increasingly flirting with a presidential run in 2024, appears to be on this path, and his book is evidence of it.
Just one week after the release of The Courage to Be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival, Florida’s governor is right to celebrate. His new book is selling very well and has exceeded former presidential candidates’ numbers in those first seven days.
According to BookScan and Business Insider, DeSantis’ autobiography sold more than 94,300 copies in its first week, a number that includes pre-orders, but not downloadable e-books or Kindle. This number of sales eclipsed the autobiographies of Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, who did the same in 2008, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
In that order, The Audacity Of Hope sold 67,500 copies in its first week on the market, Crippled America sold 27,687 copies in its first seven days and Hard Choices sold 86,200 copies in the same period.
It is DeSantis’ second book, released on February 28 and published by Broadside, the conservative arm of Harper Collins Publishing, owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. Interestingly, the current Florida governor released his first book, Dreams from Our Founding Fathers, a year before his first candidacy, which could be a premonition of what happens in 2024.
At that time – and as he reveals in his second book – he used the first one to make himself known in his community and in Republican circles, which would later give him the momentum to make it to Congress in 2012.
DeSantis to decide in May about 2024
Still undecided on whether to seek the Republican nomination for President, DeSantis set May 2023 as a key month to make his decision.
Only Donald Trump, Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy have formally declared their presidential candidacies. Of course, we still have to wait for Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence, Tim Scott, Mike Pompeo, Chris Sununu, Larry Elder, Asa Hutchinson, among other potential candidates.
As Florida’s governor, he used his landslide reelection to boost his national profile. Going from 0.4% to almost 20% in a state that was presumed difficult to win, immediately positioned him as a strong candidate for 2024. However, despite some flirtations, including the book, his intentions are still unknown.
“We’re going to sell some books, we’re going to spread the message of Florida. And then on March 8, I have our Legislative Session that’s kicking off,” he said in the interview, “You ain’t seen nothing yet,” he assured in a recent interview, in which he specified his two immediate priorities.
Joaquín Núñez es licenciado en comunicación periodística por la Universidad Católica Argentina. Se especializa en el escenario internacional y en la política nacional norteamericana. Confeso hincha de Racing Club de Avellaneda. Contacto: [email protected] // Joaquín Núñez has a degree in journalistic communication from the Universidad Católica Argentina. He specializes in the international scene and national American politics. Confessed fan of Racing Club of Avellaneda. Contact: [email protected]