Palm Beach and Broward have been corrupt Dem vote generators for decades, but DeSantis's vote count was relatively weak in GOP areas due to an absent DeSantis campaign organization. In 2018, I was getting calls from old GOP friends who wanted to help asking where DeSantis was and who was running his campaign. I had no answer, with even DeSantis's web presence at the time minimal.
As it was, with the benefit of a solid GOP state organization, growing GOP voting base, and ethics issues that began to surface as to Gillum, DeSantis did better in Florida than McCain and Romney did against Obama. That was just enough for DeSantis to win in 2018.
Over the years, I have known candidates like DeSantis who are shy in their campaign effort, governing style, and personality. They may perform well in office but can be a chore to support. Here is one example.
I was once rebuked by a local candidate desperate for campaign cash because I had gotten promises for a large bundle of donations without asking her first but relying instead on the solicitation of her campaign manager to me. Embarrassed, I had to tell the perplexed bundler that the money against an incumbent he and the prospective donors hated was declined. The candidate lost and later apologized to me.
The fundamental problem is that even when drawn to politics or other form of organizational leadership, some personalities are deeply discomfited by the loss of control that such roles necessarily entail. This mismatch between personality and the demands of leadership tends to make them passive, negative types in leadership style.
If that is what the times need, that can be a good thing, with such leaders being innately cautious and calculating, disinclined to adventures and risk. DeSantis seems of that type, but I am not at all sure that is what conservatives and the country need in the 2024 election.
Just as I was for Reagan and his "bold colors, not pale pastels" in 1976 and 1980, I was for Trump in 2016 and 2020 and am for him again in 2024. For me, DeSantis is the spare, not the heir. At least not yet.
I live in FL too. Stopped reading your post after you wrote about supporting our Gov if Trump loses. I cant do that because of WHO is behind DeSantis. There is zero chance of my vote ever going to an establishment or establishment backed candidate. Zero. Our Gov needs to change his friendships within his party.
“For me, DeSantis is the spare, not the heir. At least not yet.”
Yes, and if you successfully eliminate or destroy the spare.... where will you be if or when you end up needing the spare?
Too many here with tunnel vision focused ONLY on Trump....who the left is busily attempting to disqualify from even running, much less from winning. We need a backup plan but these people are, for some reason, trying to destroy that backup option. You have to wonder why. It’s almost like they’re not really focused on saving America but have another agenda in mind.
Trump is excellent at the personal. He’s horrible at personnel. DeSantis is excellent at the personnel. He’s horrible at the personal.