The Florida governor and rising GOP star on Thursday suspended a Tampa-area elected state attorney who had signed a pledge not to prosecute those who seek out or provide abortions in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the seminal case that protected the right to abortion. 

It's only the latest item on a growing list of moves designed to win over the Republican Party's conservative base amid speculation that DeSantis could pursue a bid for the White House in the coming years.

"He is sending a message to Republican voters and to the American people that he is a leader, and he is willing to make very difficult decisions that many other elected officials aren't, and he is willing to fire people who people think are untouchable, and that is crucial for someone that's going to run for president in 2024," said Terry Schilling, the president of the conservative grassroots organization, the American Principles Project.