Trump's Stranglehold on GOP Under Threat as DeSantis Enters Race
- Florida governor Ron DeSantis has officially launched his campaign for the Republican nomination, directly challenging former president Donald Trump.
- DeSantis has criticized Trump's policies and leadership, accusing him of being ineffective and soft on important issues like the economy, immigration and crime.
- Trump maintains a strong lead in polls and fundraising, but DeSantis's candidacy poses the first real threat to his frontrunner status.
- The large GOP field, including declared candidates like Nikki Haley, Tim Scott and Asa Hutchinson, has so far refused to take on Trump directly.
- DeSantis's hardline conservatism and flair for controversy could appeal to Trump's base, even as he seeks to cast himself as a more traditional Republican.
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