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Why the DeSantis Braintrust Thinks It Can Actually Beat Trump
Politico ^ | 05/12/2023 | JONATHAN MARTIN

Posted on 05/12/2023 9:48:15 AM PDT by conservative98

When I pressed him on why DeSantis seems so publicly fixated on the MAGA wing of the GOP, Cox was charitable.

“It’s a really tough party right now,” he said. “No one else has figured out how to unify and bring the party together. [DeSantis] has clearly made the calculation he needs to be a good alternative for Trump diehard voters out there.”

The assumption, other top Republicans say, is that more moderate Republicans like Cox will fall in line with DeSantis because the alternative is Trump.

I’m less convinced of that, at least for now. DeSantis may have to take more aggressive steps to pull the ungainly anti-Trump coalition together, particularly if he wants to winnow the field by the end of this calendar year. It may seem contrived, but the challenge of dethroning Trump is going to require extreme measures. (A DeSantis-Tim Scott unity ticket?)

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
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To: kaktuskid

I have posed that question on Free Republic a few times.

And the answers I have gotten have been :

1. Reagan was more conservative than Ford whereas DeSantis is alleged to be RINO and deep state, as compared to Trump.

2. Reagan had a long track record as a conservative before he ever ran for president, whereas DeSantis does not have that track record.

3. People who voted for Ford in 1976 were happy to support Reagan in 1980. But according to some people here, people who support Trump now are not going to support DeSantis in the future.


41 posted on 05/12/2023 11:04:08 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: conservative98
DeSantis may have to take more aggressive steps to pull the ungainly anti-Trump coalition together, particularly if he wants to winnow the field by the end of this calendar year.

He cannot get the nomination on an anti-Trump coalition, the Republican Party is majority Trump, and Trump is running. Some of Trump's weaknesses from 2016 are no longer applicable. He is now experienced and a proven doer while still an outsider. (Powerful state actors trying to sue you and indict you out of the race is an excellent definition of a true outsider).

I don't even see a regional advantage anywhere for DeSantis. He might get some white shoe Republicans (not necessarily RINO, but like things tidy and less vulgar) in the northeast, but even without Haley and Pence, not enough. There's not even a convincing "less government" libertarian type running (e.g. Rand Paul).


42 posted on 05/12/2023 11:07:18 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("If you can’t say something nice . . . say the Rosary." [Red Badger])
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To: conservative98

Short of a massive black swan event, Trump is the nominee, and it won’t even be close.

I know the nevertrumper/globalist/establishment wing of the party want desperately for that not to be the case, but there is no one who has any shot at the nomination with Trump running.. The math isn’t there, and never has been.

You think the Trump base is going to stay home if Trump’s on the ballot? Or better yet you think they are going to vote for someone else if he’s on the ballot?

If you believe either of those things, you probably need to consider suing the schools who educated you for malpractice.


43 posted on 05/12/2023 11:10:48 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: Dr. Sivana

Desantis won’t even win the primary in his own state.

Anyone who thinks they can beat Trump for the nomination is, to quote Hillary, “requires the willful suspension of disbelief”.

Desantis is going to learn a very hard lesson, and very likely do himself some very very long term damage... Just like Rubio and Cruz did to themselves back in 16.


44 posted on 05/12/2023 11:14:13 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: HamiltonJay

Latest polling numbers. For DeSantis to have a chance something big will have to happen to sour Republican voters on Trump. Considering what’s already been dumped on Trump, I doubt something big enough is going to happen.

https://morningconsult.com/2024-gop-primary-election-tracker/


45 posted on 05/12/2023 11:16:50 AM PDT by FreedomForce
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To: conservative98
“It’s a really tough party right now,” he said. “No one else has figured out how to unify and bring the party together.

No one has figured out how to unify people? What an idiot comment.

President Trump has a welded bond with tens of millions of his supporters, it's historic and not been seen in modern America. You have to dial back to the founders to see this type of relationship between a leader and the people.

46 posted on 05/12/2023 11:20:10 AM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

If my choice is Biden or DeSantis, I’m not voting or I’m writing in Trump.


47 posted on 05/12/2023 11:21:58 AM PDT by jpsb
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To: conservative98

Today on War Room, Bannon said there’s some serious chatter that RD will not throw his hat in the ring after Trump did so well at the town hall.

That dork Steve Cortes got bought off by one of the RD PACs and, dumped all things Trump, and walked away. Wonder what he’ll do if Ron doesn’t run. He’s burned some bridges.


48 posted on 05/12/2023 11:22:03 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam (Worrying doesn't take away tomorrow's troubles. It takes away today's peace.)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

Because MR. TDS, we don’t want Desanctus to run against Trump. There is no need for a GOP internecene war. This is a MAGA party now so get over yourself. A war would give the Demoncats ammo to use against Trump in the general.


49 posted on 05/12/2023 11:30:15 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: KEVLAR

That is a vote for Biden, or whoever makes the dim ticket


50 posted on 05/12/2023 11:36:35 AM PDT by lrvp99 (I like to go swimmin' with bow legged women)
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To: FreedomForce

And they will get worse.

Not only is Trump growing, which was bound to happen, but the more DeSantis is being seen, the lower he is polling.

Desantis is showing the Hillary effect, the more he’s seen the lower he polls.

His great “Coming Out” tour landed like a lead balloon.

Desantis has a bright future, but if he lets his ambition get the better of him in the short term, he’s going snuff that bright future out.


51 posted on 05/12/2023 11:39:33 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: jpsb

That is a vote for Biden


52 posted on 05/12/2023 11:40:10 AM PDT by lrvp99 (I like to go swimmin' with bow legged women)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

“People who voted for Ford in 1976 were happy to support Reagan in 1980. But according to some people here, people who support Trump now are not going to support DeSantis in the future.”

Right now, Desantis will get future support for Trump voters if he isn’t stupid. If however he starts doing direct attacks on Trump in a head to head race... He will alienate a whole lot of those Trump voters for life.

This isn’t 1976, and Desantis is certainly no Reagan. Trump fights, and fights hard at everything he does, and if Desantis runs against him, Trump is going to go hard after him and Desantis is not going to be able to beat Trump as his own game and in the process will wind up bloodied and battered and very harm his future prospects. The most likely outcome of Desantis taking on Trump is Desantis winds up suffering long term harm to his brand just like Cruz and Rubio did in 2016.

Desantis if free to run, but there is no real upside for him if he wants to try to go head to head with Trump. Odds of him long term damaging himself are far far more likely than any chance he will receive the nomination. Hell, polling doesn’t even show Desantis able to win his own STATE in the primaries... How do you think you are going to have a future in national politics if as a sitting Governor, you lose your own sate in the Presidential Primary?


53 posted on 05/12/2023 11:45:48 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: lrvp99

Sorry, that bullshit does not fly.

I’m not voting for a letter in front of a name.

If I don’t vote, it is not a vote for anyone.


54 posted on 05/12/2023 11:46:18 AM PDT by KEVLAR ( )
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To: lrvp99

Absolutely false.

This sort of “logic” is why the GOP loses.


55 posted on 05/12/2023 11:48:25 AM PDT by KEVLAR ( )
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To: conservative98

It is obvious


56 posted on 05/12/2023 12:12:40 PM PDT by stanne
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To: dragnet2
No one has figured out how to unify people? What an idiot comment.
President Trump has a welded bond with tens of millions of his supporters


He has, but there is no question that he drives away others. The people who say they want a unifier want the McCains and Romneys, if not the Weickers and Specters as part of the "unified" party.

MG must continue, long after Trump, and the Romneys, McCains and David Frenches/Rick Wilsons must be permanently PURGED in order to let in some lunch bucket very old school Democrats who are presently homeless, and those who are so disaffected that they have not been part of the process for decades, if ever.
57 posted on 05/12/2023 12:21:33 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("If you can’t say something nice . . . say the Rosary." [Red Badger])
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To: Dr. Sivana
He has, but there is no question that he drives away others

Well may they get everything they so richly deserve.

58 posted on 05/12/2023 12:23:21 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: HamiltonJay
Right now, Desantis will get future support for Trump voters if he isn’t stupid.

No he won't. That guy won't get my vote ever.

59 posted on 05/12/2023 12:35:35 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: dfwgator

EVERY coalition includes some, and drives away others. In the 1940s, we would have loved to have the Chamber of Commerce Crowd. That was before the local Piggly Wiggly owner and your town’s George Bailey got replaced with stooges of United Technologies, Bayer/Monsanto, and AB-InBev.

One-Hundred Forty years of Freudianism, Darwinism, Marxism, Deweyism and their successors in Dewey, Friedan, Gramschi and a large cast of behind the scenes movers, have worked their magic. The mortar between the bricks is all but gone, and knocking over the wall of civilization is proving all too easy.


60 posted on 05/12/2023 12:37:56 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("If you can’t say something nice . . . say the Rosary." [Red Badger])
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