Ron DeSantis defends Kamala Harris snub as Hurricane Milton stalks Florida

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News on Oct 8, 2024

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Ron DeSantis Tuesday defended snubbing Vice President Kamala Harris as Hurricane Milton churns toward Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The Republican governor of Florida belatedly took a call from President Biden Monday night as the leaders coordinate preparations for the storm bearing down on Tampa and work on recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene.

But DeSantis says he’s too busy to talk to Harris.

“It’s not about you, Kamala. It’s about the people of Florida,” DeSantis said on Fox News. “My focus is exactly where it should be.”

The onetime GOP presidential contender expressed exasperation at Harris’ effort to reach out to him to discuss the impending storm and the one that recently slammed into the Sunshine State.

“Why, all of a sudden, is she trying to parachute in and inject herself when she’s never shown any interest in the past?” DeSantis asked. “We know it’s because of politics.”

“I have zero time to entertain these political games,” he added.

Harris refused to take the bait, saying she still hopes to discuss Florida’s needs with DeSantis.

“At some point, we all have to work together,” Harris said Tuesday in an appearance on The View. “It’s a shame that hasn’t happen.”

Hurricane Milton weakened slightly Tuesday but remains a ferocious storm that could land a once-in-a-century direct hit on Tampa and St. Petersburg, engulfing the populous region with towering storm surges, wind and rain.

It is forecast to hit late Wednesday night, just two weeks after Helene roared ashore further north, delivering a glancing but still potent blow to the same stretch of the Gulf Coast.

Harris said Monday that she had tried several times to reach DeSantis in recent days without success.

Although she didn’t criticize DeSantis directly, Harris pleaded with leaders to leave politics out of the storm recovery and response.

“People are in desperate need of support right now,” Harris said. “And playing political games at this moment in these crisis situations, these are the height of the emergency situations. It’s just utterly irresponsible, and it is selfish.”

Biden spoke with DeSantis as well as Tampa Mayor Jane Castor late Monday to offer any federal support they need, the White House said.

“He asked both to call him directly if anything can be done to further support response and recovery efforts,” said Emilie Simons, a White House spokeswoman.