As his state continues to suffer through some of the nation’s highest rates of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is selling campaign merchandise mocking White House medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci.
“Don’t Fauci My Florida” reads the slogan emblazoned on t-shirts and koozies available for purchase on the Republican governor’s website.
DeSantis is serving in his first term as governor in Florida and is up for re-election in 2022, but he may also have Presidential aspirations when Joe Biden’s term comes to a close in 2024.
As such, DeSantis has spent the pandemic setting up a rivalry of sorts with Fauci, often vocally opposing the various efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19. Other merchandise available on the site features sayings like “Keep Florida Free” and “How the hell am I going to be able to drink a beer with a mask on?”
Related
As a defense for his opposition, DeSantis continues to tout economic numbers in the state as he rails against measures like masking and social distancing, saying that policies that were at odds with medical advice have bolstered the Florida economy.
"We're going to end up probably having like $10 million in reserve once the new budget takes effect," DeSantis said in June. "That would not have been possible if we had followed Fauci. Instead we followed freedom. And that's the reason Florida is doing better."
But while the state might be faring well monetarily, medically it appears to be flailing.
According to the Washington Post COVID-19 tracker, Florida has the highest number of coronavirus deaths per capita, and it trails only Arkansas in daily reported cases per capita.
Related
