WATCH: Larry Hogan says DeSantis is good at ‘getting on Fox News’ but lacks broad appeal
Julia Johnson
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Former Gov. Larry Hogan (R-MD) said Tuesday that Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) will need to reach out to swing voters if he wants to seek the presidency in 2024.
“I mean, he’s done a really good job of getting on Fox News, and he’s capturing a lot of attention,” Hogan told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “But he certainly hasn’t done it the way [former Gov.] Charlie Baker [R-MA] and [Gov.] Phil Scott [R-VT] and I have.”
“We’re consistently the … highest job approval in the country, and I think DeSantis is down around 30th place among governors,” he boasted.
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According to Morning Consult, DeSantis is the 21st most popular governor in the country, whereas, as Hogan pointed out, Scott is No. 1, Baker was No. 3, and Hogan was No. 4. DeSantis has an approval rating of 56%.
The survey was conducted between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1 to 5 percentage points.
“I think they really do like the fact we’re Republican governors in deep blue states, that we have to work together in order to get things done,” Hogan explained. “And that bipartisan commonsense solution, being willing to not demonize the other side and focus on solving problems, is very popular in both parties.”
“It’s where most of America is,” he added.
The former Maryland governor believes DeSantis is “focused on the base.”
“He’s doing pretty well with the base,” he admitted. “But he’s gonna have to figure out a way, if he wants to have a political future beyond Florida, to appeal to a broader audience.”
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When Tapper asked Hogan if he’ll throw his hat in the ring for 2024, he responded, “I don’t know.”
“I do care very deeply about getting my party back to a bigger tent party that can win elections. I’m concerned about the country,” he said, adding that he will “see what the future holds.”