OnPolitics: Here's why Ron DeSantis thinks 2024 is a marathon, not a sprint

Hi there, OnPolitics readers! Here's one thing you should know about the crowded 2024 Republican primary: Ron DeSantis thinks presidential campaigns are marathons, not sprints.

That’s according to USA TODAY’s David Jackson, who reported that the Florida governor’s presidential campaign seems to be stuck in neutral. DeSantis was long the hope of Republicans who don’t want to see former President Donald Trump elected to a second term, but he has failed to catch up to the former president in recent polling.

Trump has built leads of more than 30 percentage points in some national polls. And some Republicans believe DeSantis has to boost his day-to-day efforts on the campaign trail. Anthony Scaramucci, a former White House communications director for Trump, told USA TODAY that his chair “is more charismatic than” DeSantis.

"He has no retail touch or common appeal," Scaramucci said.

A DeSantis’ comeback plan? Some of the Florida governor’s efforts include developing voter turnout operations, rolling out policy proposals and looking toward upcoming GOP primary debates. But it’s not certain Trump will even participate.

"Donald Trump has to explain to Republican voters why he didn't do the things he is now promising in his first term as president," DeSantis press secretary Bryan Griffin told USA TODAY, saying the Florida leader "over-delivered on his promises as governor and has the national vision we need to restore our country."

Read more: Ron DeSantis is way behind Donald Trump. Here's his comeback plan.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: As DeSantis trails Trump, here's a look at his comeback plan