2024 preview? Ron DeSantis does a book tour to discuss his Florida record - not Donald Trump

WASHINGTON – While not officially running for president – yet – Ron DeSantis is on a campaign-like book tour designed to play up his record in Florida while trying to dodge attacks from Donald Trump.

DeSantis did not mention the former president during a high-profile speech Sunday, focusing instead on his own governing philosophy in Florida and how it might apply to "the federal establishment" in Washington, D.C.

"The lesson is, swing for the fences – you will be rewarded," DeSantis told a supportive crowd gathered at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

DeSantis is planning to echo this message across the country in the coming weeks, though a final announcement on a 2024 presidential candidacy is still a few months away.

Campaigning by the book (tour)

The Reagan library speech was part of a book tour that is expected to take DeSantis to early GOP delegate selection states like Iowa and New Hampshire..

DeSantis is promoting "The Courage To Be Free: Florida's Blueprint For America's Revival," the kind of book aspiring presidential candidates have published before their campaigns.

In the book, the potential presidential candidate discusses his years in Congress and the Florida governor's mansion. And he avoids attacks on Trump, the one-term president who is seeking the office again in 2024, instead, DeSantis writes in praise of many of the Trump administration's initiatives.

Florida: 'Where Woke Goes to Die'

DeSantis did not mention the front-running Trump in his Reagan library. Instead, he touted a gubernatorial record that includes repeated attacks on so-called "woke-ism," a campaign targeting diversity and inclusion programs in schools, businesses, and government.

"Our state is where woke goes to die," the Florida governor said, a mantra he repeatedly said during his 2022 re-election campaign. At one point in his speech, DeSantis said schools should be devoted to "education, not indoctrination."

In what sounded like a campaign platform, DeSantis also argued that red states like Florida have led the country on issues like lower taxes, "law and order," a pro-business "climate," education policy, and a COVID pandemic approach that stressed keeping schools and businesses open.

DeSantis v. Disney: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis exacts punishment, takes over Disney district on eve of book launch

Minority opposition:Poll: Most Black voters disapprove of DeSantis blocking Black history course, approve of Biden

A 'desperate chase' for Trump voters

DeSantis opponents call him as divisive a candidate as Trump, and say he is using the term "woke" to justify policies that marginalize Black, gay, and transgender Americans.

Before his speech, the Democratic National Committee said DeSantis is running "a shadow 2024" campaign aimed at Trump's "Make America Great Again" followers. The DNC statement cited DeSantis opposition to abortion, tax breaks for the wealthy, and curbing health care costs.

"His desperate chase to win over the MAGA base is putting Floridians’ lives in danger and crushing them with skyrocketing costs," said DNC spokesperson Rhyan Lake.

Trump hovers; DeSantis ignores

As DeSantis performs relatively well in early Republican polls, Trump has stepped up criticism on the ambitious governor.

The attacks range from demeaning nicknames to claims that DeSantis is a "Republican In Name Only" when it comes to things like Social Security and even COVID policies.

"The real Ron is a RINO GLOBALIST, who closed quickly down Florida and even its beaches," Trump said a Truth Social post last month. "Loved the Vaccines and wasted big money on 'Testing.' How quickly people forget!"

Trump's race:'I won't even think about leaving': Trump at CPAC says indictment wouldn't push him out of 2024 race

Slow-burning feud:Trump is under fire over the midterms. DeSantis is rising. And a 2024 rivalry is just beginning.

DeSantis tried to avoid 'Background noise'

So far, DeSantis is not taking the bait.

In a recent book promotion interview on Fox News, DeSantis noted that Trump used to praise his performance as governor, but that was before he started scoring well in presidential polls.

"I don't really pay attention to a lot of the background noise," DeSantis said.

DeSantis has indicated he will make his decision on a 2024 presidential campaign after the current Florida legislative ends. Adjournment is scheduled for May.

Sununu: Republicans looking for an alternative to Trump

Gov. Chris Sununu, R-N.H., who is thinking about running for president himself, told NBC's "Meet The Press" on Sunday that many Republicans are looking for an alternative to Trump, and many of them are looking at DeSantis.

"Right now," he said, "if the election were today, Ron DeSantis would win in New Hampshire, there's no doubt about that in my mind."

In the meantime, DeSantis said he will keep swinging, though he confined his criticisms to "the left" and not Trump.

"It's not easy to fight the fights," DeSantis said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gov. Ron DeSantis on book tour to tout Florida record, dodges Trump