Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited North Charleston Wednesday as part of a national tour for a book, The Courage to Be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival. But anyone with a lick of political common sense knew it was little more than a Palmetto State visit in advance of an expected run for the GOP nomination for president in 2024.

During the visit where about 300 people met in North Charleston Coliseum, DeSantis slammed transgender and LGBTQ+ rights as well as “woke” American politics of efforts to increase diversity of inclusivity. Later Wednesday, he traveled to Spartanburg for a political event.

“I think it’s an attack on merit. I think it’s an attack on achievement,” DeSantis said to a mostly White audience who heard him talk about critical race theory and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

The governor, who later visited a Summerville coffee shop and to a country club for a GOP event, also criticized President Joe Biden’s administrative policies.

“Look at what they’ve done over the past few years, massive amounts of borrowing and spending, trillions and trillions of dollars,” DeSantis said. “The Federal Reserve printing trillions and trillions of dollars. What is the result of that going to be? Of course, you’re going to have inflation.”

Though DeSantis has not formally entered the 2024 presidential race, he is expected to do so by the time next federal fundraising reports are due in mid-July. A recent Winthrop poll showed former President Donald Trump was the GOP candidate for two in five S.C. Republican voters.  But DeSantis and former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley each was the choice of about one in five GOP voters in S.C.

In other headlines:

CP: Black Food Truck Festival in Lowcountry caters to food, safe spaces. This year’s Black Food Truck Festival on April 22-23 in Ladson at the Exchange Club Fairgrounds hosts 45 Black and POC-owned food trucks and vendors and could attract up to 20,000 people.

CP: Crawford explores link between race and rising waters. Harvard professor and author Susan Crawford explores the relationship between rising waters along the Charleston coast and the racial disparity of the city in her new book Charleston: Race, Water and the Coming Storm.

S.C. Senate OKs $13 million state budget. The state Senate unanimously on Wednesday approved a $13 million spending plan in what was characterized as an “unusually short debate lacking the typical back-and-forth” seen in most years.

S.C. gets closer to lethal injection secrecy. The S.C. House gave key approval Wednesday to allow the name of a company that sells drugs for lethal injection to remain anonymous, as well as members of the execution team.

North Charleston mayoral candidates to share stage Thursday. The seven declared candidates vying to become North Charleston’s next mayor will be sharing the stage at the Alfred Williams Community Center Thursday evening. Questions will likely focus heavily on crime and social issues, as well as education and development of the city.

City of Charleston seeks full rezoning to help flooding issue. The City of Charleston is seeking rezoning to prevent flooding from getting worse for homes and businesses. City officials said the goal is to balance the resilience and equity of their zoning code to make sure new construction won’t get drowned during a major storm.

Efforts to limit short-term rentals on Folly Beach squashed. A proposal to stop Folly Beach and other barrier islands from limiting short-term rentals was thrown out on a technicality of whether it was germane, meaning it was directly related to the state spending bill.

• To get dozens of South Carolina news stories every business day, contact the folks at SC Clips.

More headlines:

Citizen Cope embraces gift of life with new record

Alt-rock act Citizen Cope makes his way to Charleston Music Hall May 4 for his solo acoustic tour “All The Songs You Want To Hear”.    Full story >

Author Crawford explore link between race, rising waters

Harvard professor and author Susan Crawford takes a look at the crises of climate change and systemic racism in Charleston in her new book released April 4.            Full story >

Three Easy Pieces brings fusion instrumentals

Formed by members of local metal band Hellcast, the instrumental band Three Easy Pieces turns toward improvisation and ornate rock for fresh inspiration.    Full story >

PULSE: What’s happening in Charleston music

Check out what’s happening in the Charleston music scene this week.    Full story >

Weekend’s Black Food Truck Festival caters to food, safe spaces

This year’s Black Food Truck Festival, will be April 22-23 in Ladson at the Exchange Club Fairgrounds.    Full story >

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