>>”If his approach was. “President Trump was a great man, with solid ideas, but his jagged edges and chaotic style were a hindrance to many national discussions,” I think a great many people, even Trump supporters, would agree”
I agree with you that that would have been his best strategy, and in fact that was the angle his surrogates were pushing before DeSantis formally announced. But there are two flaws with that narrative that he was never going to overcome.
First, the contention that Trump’s style was a hinderance to his effectiveness is something that many Trump supporters, myself included, don’t accept. That Trump “lost” in 2020 is a poor argument, to those of us who believe that he actually won in 2020 by a comfortable margin.
Second, when Trump preemptively started attacking DeSantis, it threw him off his game plan. If he ignored Trump’s attacks, it made him look weak. When his, “I’m focused on Biden, not Trump” approach didn’t work, he had nowhere to go but to abandon the strategy altogether and start attacking Trump on policy, not just style. That’s a losing argument for DeSantis and always will be. Believing that a majority of voters would view his accomplishments as governor of Florida as being greater than Trump’s accomplishments as president was folly on his part.
People have to be paying him to run.
I agree that Trump won in 2020.
No one will convince me that a post-turtle beat Trump.
He still could have countered without looking weak or attacking Trump/MAGA.
Pivoting is an art form most people don’t master, but it works.
For example, Trump goes after DeSantis by claiming Ron was struggling until Trump helped him out.
Ron responds, “I appreciated the help President Trump gave me and always will (pivot). I used that opportunity to show the country what can be done under my strong, steady leadership (inserts 3 talking point accomplishments).”
There’s the soundbite. That’s the X, rumble, etc.
No disrespect to Trump/MAGA. Now if Trump comes back with the same line of attack, he looks petty.
But that ship has sailed. As you mentioned, he started going after Trump on policy...when implementing sound policy, in the face of enemies on all fronts, was Trump’s strong suit.
“Believing that a majority of voters would view his accomplishments as governor of Florida as being greater than Trump’s accomplishments as president was folly on his part.”
Certainly, but he has convinced a few of the gullible on this site.