DeSantis on Trump's criticism: "He understands that I’ve got a good chance to beat him"

Ron DeSantis has become a target of criticism from Donald Trump, his main Republican challenger for the 2024 presidential race, after making his candidacy official. However, the Florida governor showed that he views the former president's attacks positively.

Donald Trump has launched several attacks against DeSantis, but after the governor made his candidacy official, the former president used his social network, Truth Social, to criticize his rival and highlight why he believes that he himself is the only Republican capable of resolving the nation's big issues. However, DeSantis explained that he does not see these attacks in a negative light, because he believes this criticism shows that Trump sees him as his biggest threat.

"I think a lot of what he’s doing is showing everyone that he understands that I’ve got a good chance to beat him, because he doesn’t criticize anybody else now. It’s only me," he said during an interview with host Jack Heath.

According to the Florida governor, the former president realizes that he is offering people "a record of achievement that’s second to none."

Polls continue to favor Trump

Although DeSantis is one of the strongest Republican choices for the presidential race, the latest polls continue to project the former president ahead of the governor by about 30 points.

While the CNN poll is the tightest and has Trump and DeSantis only 27 points apart. The former president has a 53% approval rating, compared to the Florida governor's 26%.

The Clarity Labs poll, meanwhile, shows a 56-point gap in favor of Trump, who holds 69% of the support, compared to DeSantis' 13%. The rest of the official Republican candidates fail to even reach 10%.