2024 presidential race preview? Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis debates challenger Charlie Crist

WASHINGTON – When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis debates Democratic challenger Charlie Crist on Monday, some viewers may study DeSantis in the context of a future election: The 2024 presidential race.

DeSantis' emergence as a possible Republican presidential candidate in just a year and a half has shadowed his re-election bid against Crist, a former Republican governor who switched parties more than a decade ago and most recently served as U.S. Congressman for Florida's 13th District.

The governor's future ambitions, including the prospect of challenging former President Donald Trump in Republican presidential primaries, may well surface during Monday's debate with Crist in Fort Pierce, Florida.

DeSantis' prospects

DeSantis rose in Republican political polls after his frequent clashes with President Joe Biden and his administration over COVID lockdown and vaccination policies.

The governor has also fought a series of cultural battles that are likely to be discussed during the debate.

DeSantis and Republican legislative allies dissolved the special tax district for the Walt Disney Co. after it objected to a law that forbade teachers from discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill.

Last month, DeSantis authorized the transport of Venezuelan migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, a Democratic stronghold in protest of Biden immigration policies. While the move was popular among GOP Republicans, the national controversy sparked a criminal investigation and a federal class-action lawsuit. The suit alleged the Florida governor authorized a fraudulent scheme that lured migrants with false information.

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Crist's challenge

Crist says DeSantis has used the governor's office to divide Floridians. He has also made an issue of DeSantis' opposition to abortion rights,

In a tweet over the weekend, Crist said voters have only a few weeks to "protect abortion rights," "stop fascism in our state," and "save democracy."

National Democrats say Crist as a chance to stop DeSantis' presidential ambitions, but he is the underdog in the race.

Former President Barack Obama endorsed Crist over the weekend, asking voters "if you’re ready for a governor who cares about people instead of bullying them."

Crist also enters the debate on a low note: He dismissed his campaign manager, who was arrested on a domestic violence charge.

Crist's political journey

A long-time political operative, Crist won election as Florida governor back in 2006 – as a Republican, succeeding Jeb Bush.

In 2010, Crist ran for the U.S. Senate, but was overtaken during the Republican primary by Tea Party-backed state legislator Marco Rubio. Crist wound up running for the Senate as an independent, but lost to Rubio.

Crist joined the Democratic Party in 2012, and ran for governor again in 2014, but lost to Republican Rick Scott.

In 2016, he ran for Congress and won a U.S. House seat that he relinquished this year to focus on his challenge to DeSantis.

Hurricane delay

DeSantis and Crist had been scheduled to debate on Oct. 12, but that contest was delayed because of the clean-up following Hurricane Ian.

DeSantis has been all over the state in the weeks since, announcing post-hurricane cleanup projects.

Crist and other Florida Democrats have accused DeSantis of politicizing hurricane relief, but questioned whether it would benefit him.

“It got him a lot of air time,” Crist said. “We’ll see how people feel about their property insurance.”

DeSantis said the Democrats and the media are the ones who politicized the storm. "You don’t have to politicalize every single tragedy in this country," he said on Fox News.

The DeSantis response: DeSantis' 'go-go boots' were made for walking. All the left can do is trail behind him.

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The polls favor DeSantis

DeSantis won election as governor in 2018 by less than 1 percentage point over Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum.

In this race, DeSantis leads Crist by 51%-40%, according to a poll released Friday by the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative.

As he prepares to debate Crist, DeSantis has said he will not discuss the 2024 presidential race until after the 2020 gubernatorial election – including the question of whether he might challenge Trump.

Trump's support boosted DeSantis among Republicans in 2018, but the former president – now a Florida resident – has not formally endorsed the governor for re-election in 2022.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis debates challenger Charlie Crist