By J. Robert Smith
In case you didn’t notice, Ron DeSantis is trailing Donald Trump in Florida by a whopping 20 points. For DeSantis to have won a landslide gubernatorial reelection last November, that spread is stunning DeSantis supporters. His big money backers are grumbling. His cheerleaders in conservative media circles are hedging. Yes, it’s a long way to the Sunshine State’s presidential preference primary in March, but the governor owns a stellar record in Florida. He’s popular, yet per polling, he’s getting the stuffing kicked out of him by Trump in every demographic save those making $200 grand or more. Men, women, Hispanics, working and middle-class folk — you name it — are pro Trump. That indicates other problems for DeSantis that we’ll address shortly.
Sure, something could happen to cause Trump to stumble — if anything, his health — but Trump appears fit as a bull, so DeSantis better not count on infirmity.
The banana republic indictments of Trump by New York’s Alvin Bragg and the DoJ’s Jack Smith have done nothing — repeat, nothing — to slow Trump’s drive to the GOP nomination. In fact, these shabby, politically motivated indictments have only served to put more distance between Trump and DeSantis. The base is rallying to Trump, and for good reason: the GOP grassroots have been morphing since Trump threw his hat in the ring in late 2015. It’s strongly traditionalist, populist, and very anti-establishment. These folk are meat-eaters, not pâté nibblers. Trump and the base are simpatico.
Before you claim that Democrats have used the indictments — and maybe another coming in Georgia — to cleverly boost Trump into the nomination, think again. You’re giving too much credit to Democrats. They’re consumed by hate and fear of Trump. They really do mean to waylay him. They don’t want to face him in a General Election. But for 2020 shenanigans in Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, Trump would have been reelected. Democrats know that better than anyone, since they engineered the fixes.
Out of the gate, DeSantis has had two significant problems. One is answering the question of why he’s running. Why DeSantis and not Trump? DeSantis claims his track record as governor makes him presidential timber. But doesn’t Trump’s track record as president prove his bona fides to serve a second term? While DeSantis has excelled as Florida’s chief executive, Trump excelled as president — considering everything he accomplished despite unrelenting attacks by the establishment.
That leaves DeSantis with little in the way of a contrast. What can he say, “I don’t pick fights like Trump does?” “You hate Trump, but you’ll love me?” Meaningless, given Trump’s post-presidency.
Anyone with eyes can see that Trump has laid off the sideshow battles for the most part. He’s exhibited discipline since leaving office. He’s not being goaded into petty fights with publicity-hungry celebs. He’s even laid off Mitch McConnell, who richly deserves to be pilloried. At Trump rallies, his conversations — they aren’t really speeches — remind audiences of past accomplishments but also include points about what he plans to do in a final term as president. Crowds respond enthusiastically not only to his agenda but his determination to send D.C.’s Democrat and Republican denizens packing.
In short, DeSantis simply can’t trump Trump. Despite DeSantis’ accomplishments as governor, his story simply isn’t as compelling as Trump’s — or, frankly, as remarkable. There’s a herculean quality that Trump possesses — at least to his legions of supporters. They’re willing to ignore his foibles because he champions their values, their beliefs. He’s willing to go through hell to get them to heaven. He’s got the battle-scars to prove it.
Moreover, fairly or not, America First acolytes see DeSantis as an ingrate. Trump shrewdly fueled that perception. Trump made DeSantis’ 2018 election possible, says Trump, only to have DeSantis bite his hand by announcing his candidacy.
Though polling typically means little this far ahead of actual voting, the Florida numbers should disturb DeSantis’ team. Trump shouldn’t enjoy such a commanding lead over DeSantis. Forget the also-rans, like the stiff Mike Pence, the oily Nikki Haley, and whorish Chris Christie.
As to national polling, it’s useless. Candidates for the presidency aren’t nominated nationally, much less elected nationally — to the great frustration of scheming Democrats (they who want to abolish the Electoral College). Aspirants are nominated via caucuses and primaries in states, and elected in the states as well. Whereas DeSantis is struggling to get his organization up and running across the map, Trump has nearly an eight-year head start. Trump’s organization coupled with the passion of his voters make him practically an incumbent and tough to knock off.
As to fundraising, while Trump outraised DeSantis in the second quarter of this year, a DeSantis-aligned super PAC hauled in $130 million, a phenomenal sum. But, though money is the mother’s milk of politics, all the money in the world can’t buy genuine, intense voter support. Trump simply doesn’t need to raise the sort of money DeSantis and pro-DeSantis super PACs are raising because his voters are geared up now to turn out for state caucuses and primaries come January. DeSantis risks being 2024’s Jeb!
A critical blunder that DeSantis is making is where his money comes from. His financial muscle is flowing from rich East-coasters.
From Fox News, July 11:
Fox Business senior correspondent Charlie Gasparino was told DeSantis, who has stalled in polls, will face questions from major East Coast donors during the meeting about the viability of his campaign. DeSantis is reportedly planning to tell donors he’s playing the “long game” against the current GOP front-runner, former President Donald Trump.
The Murdochs are, heretofore, backing DeSantis because they loathe Trump. Yet, the fickle and cutthroat Rupert Murdoch is said to be displeased with DeSantis’ shaky start.
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It’s not that DeSantis is bad, but the People want Trump. We think Trump earned it, we think he deserves it and, while we want the left crushed into whining, crying, screaming pulp, we really want Trump to be the person that does it.
If nothing else it will be a BIG middle finger to the Deep Starers and the Communist demokrats both in and out of government. I wish DeSantis would have waited until 2028. People bashing him now may ruin his future chances. I would argue that he has been more successful as a governor than PT was as POTUS (and he was very successful and began turning the country around from the Obama slide). DeSantis turned Florida Red by doing the right things, getting the right people in there, and by tackling voter fraud head on. PT didn’t always do the right thing (he still touts the jab). He appointed some really good people, mainly his economic gurus, but for every one of those there was a Wray and a Barr who underminded his agenda and strengthened the DS. He also fell short addressing voter fraud. Assuming he survives the voter fraud this time, he needs to show no mercy to his opponents. Their destruction is paramount to this country becoming a constitutional republic again.
It ain’t easy telling if someone is a traitor. Trump would have the benefit of experience with deep state scum and there are a lot of people who remained loyal to him and the country while idiot Biden ruined the nation.
He obviously received some very bad advice and it was most likely intentional. Now that everyone is out in the open, he shouldn’t have that problem this time around.
Trump and DeSantis trashing each other is a win/win situation for America. Sad about the GOP, though. They were once a party of policies and principles.
DeSantis was never a viable opponent. The primary for the Republican Party is over. Trump will be the nominee.
The only question is which democrat will be defeat in a landslide?
Not just them seems treasonous Pence has declared Americans are not his concern hes running for president. Americans just want to know why he concerns himself with running if he is not concerned with America or Americans.
DeSantos is not just down, he’s out.
Who else pays doorknockers $20/hour to drum up support?
All astroturf, no real support.
And his campaign hired the dregs of the earth to knock on doors.
Proof is a Ring video of a stoned DeSantis worker telling his buddy on his phone that the homeowner can suck his Ba!!$, etc., while admitting to being pretty stoned.
https://www.newsweek.com/ron-desantis-canvasser-stoned-2024-1813140