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- The 2024 Republican presidential primary is just getting started.
- Haley and Trump are the only official candidates to enter the race, but DeSantis is expected to join.
- "This is gonna be a wild and woolly race," 2016 challenger Ted Cruz told Insider.
Whether saddled with the nickname "Meatball Ron" or something worse, Ron DeSantis better get used to incessant name-calling if he expects to wrest the next GOP presidential nomination from Donald Trump, some of the 2016 casualties said.
"Oh, this is gonna be a wild and woolly race," chastened Trump challenger Sen. Ted Cruz before leaving DC for the Presidents' Day recess.
The Texas Republican, who has said the grueling 2016 presidential primary was the "most fun" he's ever had even though Trump relentlessly savaged him and his loved ones, added that he wasn't particularly impressed with the "Meatball Ron" slight Trump reportedly tossed around. The embattled former president now vehemently denies he'll use this particular insult against his burgeoning frenemy.
"I suspect in the top 10 insults that are lobbed in this battle, that's not gonna make the list," Cruz said of the lackluster taunt Trump railed against all weekend.
"I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious 'Meatball' Ron," the twice-impeached former president fumed online in a tirade, during which he also assailed former Speaker Paul Ryan and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
Though former South Carolina governor and Trump administration alumna Nikki Haley is the only other Republican officially in the 2024 contest, DeSantis and others like Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and former Vice President Mike Pence are clearly testing the waters.
2016 presidential candidate and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina downplayed the initial nastiness, urging DeSantis to focus on the long-game.
"He's gonna have to prove that he can go to the next level and be commander-in-chief. But I think the body of his work will neutralize any nickname," Graham said about DeSantis late last week at the US Capitol, adding, "I think he's got a great story to tell as being governor."
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida initially declined to comment on the Trump-DeSantis tug-of-war, telling Insider, "I'm not talking about the campaigns right now."
But when asked about Haley's announcement and the national "listening tour" leading Tim Scott to Iowa this week, the 2016 contender opened up a bit. Rubio called Scott a "very close friend" and said Haley, who backed him over Trump in February 2016, has been very supportive.
"They're good people. Talented. A lot to brag about," Rubio said last week at the US Capitol.
When Insider followed up about whether their maneuvering had inspired him to jump in, Rubio looked up and smirked, but held his tongue during the remaining three-minute walk to the Senate chamber.