to be a further and further distraction, and that s why i am running is because we need a new generational leader. we can t keep dealing with this drama. we can t keep dealing with the negativity. i think it sets a daefrm ro dangerous precedent in our country and i say this running against president trump in this election in this election in the g, p primary. i do not want to see my opponents eliminated because of the actions because of a corrupt, federal administrative police state. cnn s jeff zeleny is with us. you just heard from two candidates and let s hear from a third, governor ron desantis who is running closest to donald trump in national polls. he, of course, spoke exclusively to our jake tapper. listen. i want to focus looking forward. i don t want to look back. i do not want to see him. i hope he doesn t get charged. i don t think it will be good for the country. are you say that if he finds evidence of criminality he
well, it s important that you state your position and donald trump is going to be the defining issue in the 2024 gop p primary. so if you re running against him or running for that office, you ve got to take a clear position i ve said it and i will continue to say it. even though that shouldn t be the focus of it and you want to do it in a way that tries to bring people together in a very divisive time. there s not an angst against donald trump it s just simply if you let the worst thing for america in terms of the body of politics would be a campaign between joe biden and donald trump and i think that s the only basis the gop is going to win. we ve got to have somebody that can appeal to independents, to suburban voters, and i don t believe donald trump is that person and we need to say that very clearly and campaign on