Please don't knock each others out.
Right now, they can’t as running mates.
But yes, joining forces generally would be much better.
They won’t knock each other out. One of them will win and one of them will lose. And let’s be honest, all wishful thinking aside, it’s going to be Trump who wins and DeSantis who loses. DeSantis needs Trump more than Trump needs DeSantis.
DeSantis has more to gain by joining forces with Trump than Trump does, and any joining of forces will occur on his terms.
Trump will win and DeSantis will either try to patch things up with Trump and perhaps salvage his political career or he will drift off into oblivion once his term as governor is over.