DeSantis wants Joe Biden to be the Democratic nominee

MILWAUKEE — Addressing an enthusiastic audience of Republican political figures at the Wednesday’s Florida delegation breakfast, Gov. Ron DeSantis took a swipe at President Joe Biden, saying sarcastically that he hopes Biden will get the nomination.

“I was pretty hard on Joe Biden last night,” DeSantis said, referring to his prime time address to Republican delegates gathered here to nominate former President Donald Trump. “It was merited. But in the spirit of unity, I just want to say that I sure hope he ends up with the Democratic nomination for president of the United States.”

DeSantis called a Biden nomination in the face of Democratic divisions over the president’s ability to offer forceful leadership “the best possible scenario for Republicans.”

“It wasn’t just that debate,” DeSantis said, referring to the June 27 face-off with Trump in which observers widely panned Biden’s performance, but also “every single day, not being able to string sentences together.”

DeSantis said that “if someone brought a candidate for a mosquito control board appointment to me in Florida, and it was someone like Biden, there’s no way I would appoint him. … He’s not fit to lead. … So I hope he sticks it out.”

DeSantis’ speech was well received by delegates. He did not stay afterward to meet with reporters.