DeSantis was finished when he started claiming things weren’t that great under Trump and then started picking at him. He damaged his own popularity and credibility which was actually quite high. He had a very, very narrow shot at making some traction if he had praised Trump’s policies and said he could bring the same “without the baggage” - instead he pivoted into saying the Trump years weren’t actually good and he caused the problems we face today. That creates another problematic narrative for his general election chances - if Trump caused the mess, why replace Biden - and why blame Biden? He also pivoted on COVID attacking Trump’s policies when DeSantis engaged in the same policies and should instead have run on his own record in beating the pandemic in Florida faster than much of the nation as a whole, and also on his getting treatments streamlined and battling the Biden Administration over its efforts to block treatments.
One of the most awful campaigns imaginable - he actually had a lot he could have run on...and didn’t...decided to delve into a tit for tat with Trump...
One of the most awful campaigns imaginable - he actually had a lot he could have run on...and didn’t...decided to delve into a tit for tat with Trump...
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Getting into a tit for tat with Trump was a bad strategy.
DeSantis was never going win at that game.
I started out wanting to support DeSantis.
His horrible performance on the campaign trail exposed all of his weaknesses and convinced me he was weak and lacked street smarts.
He was a typical Republican—snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory.
Democrats always hated him—Republicans had to learn to do so.