# DeSantis can't win the GOP nomination or the general election in 2024 {How Trump plays into this is allowed} **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 23, 2023, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249 "2023-02-23T18:07:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2023, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/341 "2023-03-18T03:11:01Z")
I agree that he is not “flaming out.” Too soon to make that kind of declaration. But that article does mention some things that don’t look good for DeSantis. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2023, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/342 "2023-03-18T12:52:02Z")
Two should-be-free articles from earlier this week on the Trump vs. DeSantis similarities and differences: > **[Trump wades into education culture war as he eyes race with DeSantis](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-looks-play-catch-up-desantis-education-2024-race-2023-03-13/)** > > Former President Donald Trump came to Iowa on Monday just days after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited the key early voting state and leaned into some of the culture-war battles that have propelled the political fortunes of his potential... and > **[Analysis: Trump, DeSantis offer stark contrast in first Iowa forays](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-desantis-offer-stark-contrast-first-iowa-forays-2023-03-14/)** > > Former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis descended upon the same Iowa town in recent days, putting the differences between the potential Republican presidential rivals in stark relief. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/343 "2023-03-22T01:12:02Z")
Oh dear, not so smiley face poll for DeSantis: > **[The DeSantis fade continues in new Morning Consult poll](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/3/21/2159497/-The-DeSantis-fade-continues-in-new-Morning-Consult-poll)** > > Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who hasn't officially announced 2024 presidential bid yet, finally stepped into the campaign fray Monday with a jab about Donald Trump "paying hush money to a porn star." "I can't speak to that," DeSantis told reporters,... ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/344 "2023-03-22T01:27:22Z")
I think DeSantis has a lot of potential as the far Right’s chosen vehicle to carry the USA into authoritarianism. So the sooner he turns into a spoiled pumpkin the better. But I really wonder about the reailty of this article. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/345 "2023-03-22T01:52:48Z")
Which article–the poll I just posted? Yeah… I think it’s just another data point. But I don’t think people can say that DeSantis is doing _great_ at this point, right? Nor as poorly as possible, but I don’t think the future is bright for him. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/346 "2023-03-23T00:08:54Z")
Oh dear (again). Polls looking bad for DeSantis: > **[The DeSantis decline is definite](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/3/22/2159688/-The-DeSantis-decline-is-definite)** > > Over the past week, the trend lines showing the steady erosion of support for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a head-to-head matchup against Donald Trump have become undeniable. Last week, The New York ... Especially this: > ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/347 "2023-03-23T00:14:55Z")
Wow. That’s shocking to me. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/348 "2023-03-23T00:29:54Z")
DeSantis cratering would be excellent news in any sane version of the USA. That instead what we see is all the early DeSantis enthusiasm flowing to TFG while a horde of midgits score 2% each scares me deeply. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/349 "2023-03-23T00:30:16Z")
Yeah, it’s one thing to have never been near where Trump was. It’s another thing to be _above_ Trump in a specific poll and then come _crashing down_ in the same poll. Not a good sign for the Florida Emperor. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/350 "2023-03-23T01:01:07Z")
Remember, this is only looking bad for DeSantis if Trump is still viable come voting 12+ months from now. He still has _nine times_ the support of the next-most-plausible candidate. All he has to do is seriously go head-to-head with Trump. I can’t imagine someone watching a debate between the two and finding Trump more persuasive. Then again, I can’t imagine someone supporting Trump (or DeSantis, for that matter), so clearly my imagination isn’t up to the task. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/351 "2023-03-23T01:14:09Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Remember, this is only looking bad for DeSantis if Trump is still viable come voting 12+ months from now. He still has _nine times_ the support of the next-most-plausible candidate. Right. > [@](#): > > All he has to do is seriously go head-to-head with Trump. I can’t imagine someone watching a debate between the two and finding Trump more persuasive. It’s not about persuasion. It’s the alpha dawgs\* throwin’ down in a cage match. > [@](#): > > Then again, I can’t imagine someone supporting Trump (or DeSantis, for that matter), so clearly my imagination isn’t up to the task. Y’ain’t stupid or white supremacist enough to get it, sorry. \*The alpha dawg to Deplorables, not moral, intelligent people. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/352 "2023-03-23T01:34:48Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > Not a good sign for the Florida Emperor. Agreed it is a bad sign. But not a very bad sign. GOP nomination races have crazy ups and down. This is because their primary voters have a hard time balancing their two main, and probably contradictory, priorities – electability, and owning the libs. Remember this: [Cain now leads GOP pack](https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna44881446) and: [Ben Carson vaulted past Donald Trump in another national poll](https://www.businessinsider.in/Ben-Carson-vaulted-past-Donald-Trump-in-another-national-poll/articleshow/49646352.cms) DeSantis ranks high on both priorities, so early polls aren’t going make me believe in the thread title. I didn’t pick the names Cain and Carson at random. I think that a Black GOP candidate gets extra owning the libs points just because of race. Tim Scott is more disciplined, and less vulnerable to oppo research, than Cain and Carson were, and so should stay near the top if he ever gets there. He’s one good primary-season debate performance from being top tier, no matter what 2023 polls say. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/353 "2023-03-23T12:09:17Z")
OTOH remember the Trump team (including the cravens inside the GOP machine who dare not even make a peep that may be interpreted as resisting) are going to do their utmost to prevent any debate situation in which one of the others is allowed to outshine or bust up DJT. The effort to displace him is not helped by the established policies of the party organization, to organize the selection process to disproportionately favor a frontrunner, ANY frontrunner, once the voting begins. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/354 "2023-03-23T12:29:42Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > GOP nomination races have crazy ups and down. This is because their primary voters have a hard time balancing their two main, and probably contradictory, priorities – electability, and owning the libs. Agree with this. TFG is perceived to own the libs better than anyone. I mean, just look at all the legal shit the libs are throwing at him now, just to knock him out of the election - they must be real scared he’ll get re-elected again. We must support he who owns libs the best - it’s all that matters - we have to save the country! Anyone who compromises with the Demoncrats is a traitor! 😬 ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/355 "2023-03-23T12:42:32Z")
It seems that Donald’s numbers have ticked upwards since (1) his legal problems have increased and (2) since he declared himself to be “your retribution.” It’s pretty scary that conflict, crime and threats are what a major party’s supporters find most appealing. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/356 "2023-03-23T15:21:50Z")
That is the dangerous part: the MAGAnists **want** someone who’ll promise to crush us, drive us before them, and hear the cries of our women. Or at least to make sure that if they lose, our victory will taste like ashes. They are perfectly _willing to themselves suffer through the tribulation_ just to see that happen. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/357 "2023-03-23T15:30:39Z")
Well, here’s how PAB feels about DeSantis. > ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/358 "2023-03-23T18:49:06Z")
Every accusation is a confession. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/359 "2023-03-23T23:12:54Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > Well, here’s how PAB feels about DeSantis. > > [https://twitter.com/RSBNetwork/status/1638694837007400961?ref\_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^tweet](https://twitter.com/RSBNetwork/status/1638694837007400961?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet) That was way too well written to be composed by PAB. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/360 "2023-03-24T08:14:13Z")
I agree he had some assistance in composing that, but it’s still how he feels about Desanctimonious. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249.md?page=19)