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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 Some of Trump's weaknesses from 2016 are no longer applicable.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).

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.