DYERSVILLE, Iowa — Ron DeSantis gripped a baseball, checked out his 5-year-old son, Mason, and lobbed him pitch after pitch. He grinned at Mason’s hits and rolled his eyes when his personal pitches got here in too low or too excessive.

“Bad pitch, buddy,” the Florida governor mentioned after one errant throw. “That one was my fault.”

It was as distant as one may get from the drama dominating the world of politics. As former President Donald Trump was having his mug shot taken inside an Atlanta jail, DeSantis and his household went on a pilgrimage Thursday to the “Field of Dreams” film set.

The scene, with golden-tasseled rows of corn surrounding the sphere and its recognizable white farm home on the close by hill, appeared an alternate actuality from the proceedings involving Trump, who is way and away the 2024 Republican presidential frontrunner.

Asked by reporters what he considered the simultaneous moments, DeSantis quipped, “Well, I’m glad I’m at the ‘Field of Dreams.’”

DeSantis performed within the Little League World Series earlier than beginning within the outfield at Yale University. He took swings of his personal and despatched some line drives into the outfield.

DeSantis’ spouse, Casey, additionally spent a while on the plate, as did 6-year-old daughter Madison. The youngest of the youngsters, 3-year-old Mamie, scampered across the baseball diamond, extra excited about tossing infield filth than batting.

DeSantis, who battles a repute for being stiff and unfriendly, approached the sphere sporting a fleece marketing campaign vest and long-sleeved shirt together with his sleeves rolled up. The warmth was beginning to ease with sundown.

He clearly felt comfy with a bat in his palms, weighing and gripping the number of Louisville Slugger bats awaiting him on the backstop. And as he readied his son to bat, he turned to his left and casually spit within the filth, as baseball gamers typically do.

Despite the enduring recognition of the venue, impressed by the 1989 film starring Kevin Costner, it's not recognized for producing presidents.

During the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucus marketing campaign, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders performed softball on the subject. During the 2016 Republican marketing campaign, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz visited, like former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum did throughout the 2012 GOP marketing campaign. Four years earlier, former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson paid homage to the monument to rural life and America’s pastime.

The closest any customer has come to the White House: Democrat John Kerry, donning a Boston Red Sox cap, celebrated July 4th weekend with a go to in 2004 en path to the Democratic National Convention in Boston.

Of this yr’s Republican contenders, solely North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has additionally made the out-of-the-way cease right here.

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