FOX News Channel’s Brian Kilmeade interviewed former Florida Governor and 2016 Republican presidential primary candidate Jeb Bush. The interview aired over the weekend and there is an interesting tidbit in it for those watching and waiting to see if the current Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, enters the 2024 GOP presidential primary. Jeb Bush sang the praises of Ron DeSantis in his typical muted fashion and it might be seen as a passive endorsement by Jeb for DeSantis.

Kilmeade asked if this is the time for Ron DeSantis to run for president. Bush said that yes it is and listed a few reasons. “Who better to do it than someone who’s been outside of Washington, who’s governed effectively, who I think has shown that Florida can be a model for our country?” That’s a theme that is emerging from Team DeSantis – Florida, under the leadership of Ron DeSantis, is a model for the country. It’s hard to ignore the level of success that DeSantis has achieved in Florida, even for the Never Trump crowd who view DeSantis with a certain level of contempt. This puts the Establishment wing of the Republican Party in a bind with Jeb’s complimentary words for Desantis. It also causes some heartburn for DeSantis supporters who are hoping to bring Trump supporters on board.

Jeb Bush endorses Ron Desantis for president. pic.twitter.com/qBF0YGHcG4

— Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦 (@RonFilipkowski) February 26, 2023

Were Jeb’s remarks a big ole troll leveled at Trump? Maybe. But, I also think Jeb means what he says about DeSantis and his performance in office. Bush was a very popular and successful governor in Florida, back in his day, and he knows competence when he sees it, at least at the gubernatorial level. Republican voters may not have wanted to continue the Bush legacy with Jeb when he ran for the Republican nomination in 2016 but there was no arguing that he achieved success in Florida. Though Jeb was the perceived immediate front-runner in the Republican primary at the time, he was quickly overtaken by Trump as interested voters signaled their desire for change from the status quo in Republican politics. Jeb! entered the primary in June 2015 and by February 2016 he dropped out. Most of the Bush family has held a grudge ever since out of loyalty to Jeb.

So, if this happy talk about a possible DeSantis candidacy is a giant troll on Trump, what better way for Bush to get a little revenge? DeSantis is Trump’s strongest potential competition. Depending on which poll you look at, Trump and DeSantis are the two top contenders for the Republican nomination. On Sunday, Fox News published the results of its debut national survey on the presidential nomination races. The poll shows Trump in a strong lead over DeSantis.

Republican primary voters were read a list of 15 announced and potential candidates for the 2024 nomination. Trump tops the list with 43%, followed by Ron DeSantis at 28%, Nikki Haley and Mike Pence at 7% each, and Greg Abbott and Liz Cheney at 2% each.

All others receive 1% or less. Even at this early stage, only 3% are unsure of their pick.

Among Republican primary voters, men, women, those under and over age 45, and those without a college degree all put Trump first and DeSantis second. The Florida governor is ahead among those with a college degree and those who think Biden was legitimately elected, and the two are within a point or so among suburban voters and those with higher incomes.

“Currently, the GOP primary dynamics are simple,” says Daron Shaw, a Republican, who conducts the Fox News survey with Democrat Chris Anderson. “DeSantis needs Trump to falter because most of the former president’s supporters see the Florida governor as the second-best choice. At the same time, other candidates need DeSantis to falter because his supporters have no single fallback option and would be up-for-grabs should he flame out.”

It’s interesting that so few Republican voters are uncertain of their choice of a candidate at this early stage. The primary season won’t be in full swing for a little less than a year. DeSantis, like some other governors who may or may not be thinking of jumping into the race, is waiting for the state legislature to complete its session before focusing on a presidential run.

And to the Republic, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit group, is helping DeSantis go national. It hosted his events in New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia last week where he spoke before law enforcement officers. His pro-police speeches garnered plenty of national publicity. His book titled “The Courage to Be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival,” will be released on Tuesday. He is doing all the things a presidential candidate would do in the lead-up to an announcement.

We cannot wait for this speaker lineup! 🤩 Have you bought your ticket yet for the biggest Lincoln Reagan Dinner Harris County has ever seen?

Ticket sales end THIS Friday, February 24! Visit https://t.co/Lfu0ymppjB to purchase. pic.twitter.com/Abjl5b9dov

— Harris County GOP (@HarrisCountyRP) February 22, 2023

Bush didn’t formally endorse DeSantis but it sounds like he will, if asked to do so.

Please clap.