Ron DeSantis leans into mask-mandate fights as Covid cases soar in Florida

As the number of new coronavirus cases in his state soars, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is betting that an aggressive campaign against mandatory mask-wearing in schools will harden the Republican base ahead of his expected re-election bid next year -- and make him a GOP star nationwide as the party's 2024 presidential primary comes into view.

The gamble appears to be paying off -- for now. DeSantis is a Fox News darling and relishes the intensifying backlash from Democrats, especially President Joe Biden, who has criticized the governor and other Republican state executives for rejecting recommendations from public health experts and officials.

But national attention does not always translate into political gain at home and could potentially seed new complications for DeSantis by the time Floridians go to the polls next year to cast their verdict on his first term. For now, the Delta variant's surge in Florida is a wild card for the governor, who has refused to ramp up mitigation efforts even as the pandemic threatens the state's tourism industry and -- with schools opening -- the safety of young students, their families, educators and other staff inside the buildings.