In a recent interview on "Face the Nation," Florida Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized the need for the upcoming 2024 presidential election to center around policy issues rather than personal legal battles. He expressed concern that a campaign solely focused on former President Donald Trump's legal issues would turn the race into a "really nasty election" and put Republicans in a disadvantaged position.

Governor DeSantis, who has been actively building support for his presidential ambitions, highlighted the importance of having a candidate who can secure a clear victory based on their policies. He urged Republicans to look forward as a country and focus on the issues that matter most to the American people.

With Iowa's caucuses approaching on January 15th, DeSantis is keen to make a strong showing in the state. Having received an endorsement from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, DeSantis has dedicated significant time and resources to court Iowa voters. However, it remains to be seen how successful his efforts will be in capturing their support.

Although initially considered a frontrunner to challenge Donald Trump in the Republican primaries, DeSantis has faced challenges in narrowing the gap between himself and the former president since launching his White House bid in May 2023. The rise of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has also cast doubt on DeSantis' projected status as a runner-up candidate.

The Iowa caucuses are seen as a critical moment for DeSantis, but he downplayed the stakes, emphasizing that his campaign will compete in other states as well. Criticizing Trump for his refusal to participate in every Republican primary debate, DeSantis expressed a desire for the former president to engage in meaningful discussions with fellow candidates, stating that Trump's counter-programming "doesn't cut it in Iowa." Nevertheless, DeSantis will have the opportunity to challenge Haley directly in the next GOP debate.

Turning his attention to border issues, DeSantis criticized the Biden administration's handling of the southern border crisis, a topic that has gained significant attention in recent days. He voiced the frustration of voters in early primary states like Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, who feel that the federal government is treating illegal immigrants better than American citizens in certain respects.

Supporting his concerns, a CBSNews/YouGov poll released on Sunday highlighted the increasing worry among Americans about the situation at the border, with a significant majority considering it a crisis. However, the practice of border states sending migrants to northern cities, which DeSantis and other Republican governors have employed, has faced growing disapproval among Americans, including within Republican ranks.

As the 2024 election campaign gains momentum, Governor DeSantis hopes to shift the focus onto substantive policy discussions. With the Iowa caucuses looming, his performance in the state will be closely observed to determine the future trajectory of his campaign.

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