Obviously you can win the primary and lose the general. It happens to one of the candidates every four years.
DeSantis can not win the primary. He can not win the party.
If he were to be handed the nomination, he is not going to generare high turnout amongst Republicans and right leaning independents. He trails behind Trump in support from independents.
Do you really believe the “every-day Dems” (as you put it) ate going to come out in support of DeSantis? They won’t. They won’t support Trump either.
No, you don’t get it.
They hated Trump. More than they liked Biden.
We have had these apparent situations before - some candidates people love so much their party comes out in force, others the other party hates so much they come out in force. There are FOR juggernauts, and AGAINST juggernauts.
The biggest problem for Desantis and any other candidate Not Trump is that EverTrumpers will act childish like their lord and savior, take their ball and go home. That will be the biggest problem this election, which has probably never happened before. Dem wins.