Left-wing late night host Stephen Colbert said that a Wall Street Journal poll that found Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis beating former President Donald Trump among likely Republican primary voters in a hypothetical matchup is like a poll pitting the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea against “slightly more racist gonorrhea.”
After making the comparison, Colbert also added, “Apologies to gonorrhea.”
The WSJ poll found that among likely Republican primary voters, DeSantis earns 52% while Trump trails with just 38%.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Gonorrhea is an infection caused by a sexually transmitted bacterium that infects both males and females.”
Trump, who served as president from early 2017 through early 2021 after defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton during the 2016 contest, lost the 2020 presidential race to Democrat Joe Biden. The former president announced last month that he is mounting another White House bid.
DeSantis, a popular figure on the political right who easily won reelection during the Sunshine State’s 2022 gubernatorial contest, has not announced any plans to run for president but is widely viewed as someone who could potentially be a presidential contender.
The GOP governor has a new book slated for release next year. “In The Courage to Be Free, Governor Ron DeSantis chronicles the most consequential decisions of his life and public service, including turning the Sunshine State into the promised land for millions of Americans,” according to a press release.
Business tycoon Elon Musk has indicated that he would support DeSantis for president, tweeting, “Yes,” when asked if he would support the Republican figure in 2024.
DeSantis is seeking a statewide grand jury to probe any wrongdoing related to COVID-19 vaccines.