I agree that if Trump isn’t in the picture, Desantis is the most likely guy on deck.
However, if Desantis decides to go head to head against Trump, he will be crushed.
Hell, even fox news (all Desantis all the time), in FLORIDA, had to prompt the name Desantis when asking folks who they planned to support in 2024, every single person they asked stated Trump, and even when they PROMPTED it (lead the answer) to someone to get Desantis’ name in the Convo, the person still didn’t fully bite, and said they liked Desantis or Trump.
People are delusional if they think that the Trump supporters, who watched their votes be STOLEN in 2020, are going to show up en masse for someone else, or stay home in 2024 if Trump is on the ballot. They are going to crawl over broken glass if need be to cast their votes for Trump, PERIOD.
Desantis has a bright future, but if he decides to take Trump on head to head... odds are far far greater he will damage himself long term, than he will win the Primary.
Even if you give Desanitis Florida, which I am not sure you can even do... 24 states will have had their primaries before Florida even votes.. Even if Desantis were to take Florida, it would end up being similar situation to the Ohio Kasich in 2016. Way to little way too late to change the momentum or outcome of the Primaries.
If Trump runs, he’s the nominee, and he’s running.. now if some black swan event happens between now and next year, obviously things could change.. but I just don’t see any calculus where Trump isn’t the nominee by a country mile.
Obviously we’ll see how this plays out... but I really don’t see anyone, and I do mean anyone able to stop Trump from the nomination, his support is too big and too loyal that anyone else has a shot.
The Trump/DeSantis rivalry is mostly a media construct.
DeSantis is stepping aside for Trump this go-around but is ensuring that he will be seen as the logical alternative should Trump be forced to drop out of this race (i.e. health issues).
At the same time, he is establishing himself as a front-runner for 2028.