# 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:** 32
**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:** [April 27, 2023, 7:54pm 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/980249/621 "2023-04-27T19:54:08Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > I wonder if Trump feels at all motivated to try to out-Ron Ron? If, to get attention and primary votes, he starts promising to bring the full weight of the federal government against “woke” corporations, maybe (in my fantasies) praising the Texas judge who allowed the FDA suit and promising more of that. Trump has already criticized DeSantis over how he’s handled the Mouse: > **[Trump attacks DeSantis by suggesting Disney could leave Florida because of...](https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/trump/2023/04/19/trump-criticizes-desantis-on-disney-with-economic-disaster-in-florida/70129695007/)** > > Former President Trump weighed in the Ron DeSantis-Disney feud, not by siding with tolerance policies, but by invoking fear of an economic apocalypse. I don’t recall Trump criticizing or messing with corporations (at least not US ones) all that much. I don’t think it’s his style. > [@](#): > > Big money would be fleeing the Republican presidential race faster than you can say “bank run.” Even Sanders would have a shot then. That may already by happening to a certain extent: > **[A conservative megadonor is sitting out '24. The GOP is probably relieved](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/4/26/2166009/-A-conservative-megadonor-is-sitting-out-24-The-GOP-is-probably-relieved)** > > Conservative megadonor Peter Thiel has informed his personal network that he doesn’t plan to contribute to any candidates this cycle, according to a new report from Reuters—a development that may actually come as a relief to Senate Republicans... Please, no more Sanders, though. > [@](#): > > After all, the smart thing to do would be to sit back and let DeSantis implode, so Trump’s definitely not going to do that. Trump has been attacking DeSantis quite a bit already, so he’s not doing that–but DeSantis seems to be imploding anyway. ---
**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:** [April 28, 2023, 2:16am 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/980249/622 "2023-04-28T02:16:25Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Seriously, how many candidates have failed to run after forming exploratory committees? A rather sizeable number. The “exploratory committee” is really the “preliminary donation gathering committee”. When they come up too close to empty handed the candidacy quietly folds. And having no money, there is no major media splash to announce the folding so folks far afield never even realize that “Rep Schmutz, TN”, has even tried to run, much less failed to even leave the starting gate. In DeSantis’ case he has already made enough national-scale noise that his committee discovering he’s undonatable-to will result in a public implosion, not a private one. But implode he may well do. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 1:23pm 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/980249/623 "2023-04-29T13:23:01Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > > [@BobLibDem](#): > > > > Seriously, how many candidates have failed to run after forming exploratory committees? > > A rather sizeable number. Actually, it’s fairly rare for a politician to form a Presidential exploratory committee and not follow through on declaring as a candidate. According to the below article by FiveThirtyEight, since 1972, at least 89 people have announced an exploratory or testing-the-waters committee for president. Only six ended up not running. So why do candidates bother taking this step even though they know full well that they’re going to run for President? Basically it gives them two bites at the apple for media coverage of their Presidential “announcement.” > **[The Real Reason Presidential Candidates Form Exploratory Committees](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-real-reason-presidential-candidates-form-exploratory-committees/)** > > Earlier this month, Sen. Tim Scott put out a slick campaign-style video and announced that he was forming an “exploratory committee” for president. But does tha… ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 3:08pm 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/980249/624 "2023-04-29T15:08:14Z")
Thanks for that link, the six who failed to run were Mondale in 1976, Laxalt and Schroeder in 1988, Quayle in 1996, Elizabeth Dole in 2000, and Evan Bayh in 2008. All of these were serious folks who had the ability to see that it wasn’t their time. Interesting link. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2023, 1:59am 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/980249/625 "2023-05-02T01:59:04Z")
DeSantis recently took an overseas trip, ostensibly to drum up business for Florida, but did not make a good impression on his hosts. > **[Ron DeSantis critics gloat over ‘brutal’ reviews of his UK trip](https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/ron-desantis-uk-trip-reviews-britain-b2329521.html)** > > The Florida governor and his wife travelled this week to Israel, Japan, Korea and the UK on an economic trade mission > “He had been to five different countries in five days and he definitely looked spent, but his message wasn’t presidential,” one businessperson told Politico. “He was horrendous.” Then Trump and Lake both told him not to run for President in 2024, hinting at a MAGA boycott if he gets the nomination. > **[Trump and Kari Lake hint at MAGA boycott if DeSantis pursues GOP nomination](https://www.newsweek.com/trump-kari-lake-hint-maga-boycott-if-desantis-takes-gop-nomination-1797646)** > > Trump retweeted a county singer's post that suggested the Florida governor wouldn't be backed by Trump supporters if he's the GOP's presidential candidate. Country singer John Rich weighed in: > Rich wrote: “I don’t understand the logic of DeSantis running. Let’s just say he beat @realDonaldTrump in the primary (which won’t happen) but let’s hypothesize.” > > Rich continued: “If he won, there wouldn’t be one true Trump supporter left that would vote for him and he would be destroyed in a general election. This is a losing proposition no matter how you look at it, so why on earth would he voluntarily run head on into the wood chipper?” I have to admit that that last phrase from Rich was pretty good. ---
**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:** [May 2, 2023, 2:04am 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/980249/626 "2023-05-02T02:04:17Z")
Yup! I think he’d run head on into the wood chipper because his head is MADE of wood! ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2023, 1:30pm 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/980249/627 "2023-05-02T13:30:14Z")
Evidently, the Mouse is also relying heavily on evidence provided courtesy of DeSantis himself in his book. > **[Ron DeSantis handed Disney lawyers the ammo they needed to blow him out of...](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/ron-desantis-handed-disney-lawyers-the-ammo-they-needed-to-blow-him-out-of-the-water-analysis/ar-AA1aD9BF?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=b5b80495a247402988d40584ac70fe59&ei=15)** > > If Gov. Ron Ron DeSantis (R-FL) flops in his war with Disney he will likely have himself -- and his presidential ambitions -- to blame, writes Washington Post columnist Greg Sargent.Attorneys for the entertainment giant filed a lawsuit against the... ---
**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:** [May 2, 2023, 10:14pm 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/980249/628 "2023-05-02T22:14:16Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Evidently, the Mouse is also relying heavily on evidence provided courtesy of DeSantis himself in his book. Let me promote what a dick I am to the MAGAs. Whoops! ---
**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:** [May 3, 2023, 12:48am 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/980249/629 "2023-05-03T00:48:44Z")
The MAGAs, at least the ones whose livelihood don’t depend directly on Disney, might really love watching the Wokey Mouse getting thrashed. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2023, 3:49am 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/980249/630 "2023-05-03T03:49:56Z")
I have no doubt that that’s correct! They’re suicidal cultural warriors. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 7:41pm 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/980249/631 "2023-05-03T19:41:05Z")
It does make me wonder who would win if the religious right in general went full on DeSantis against any corporation with business practices or internal policies that were “woke” or “sinful”. There’s a significant amount of money and access in religion, after all, PLUS the aspect of true belief and everlasting hellfire. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2023, 12:50am 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/980249/632 "2023-05-05T00:50:35Z")
Today’s episode of “DeSantis is a stupid loser”: Blatantly [using the distinctive Disney font](https://insidethemagic.net/2023/04/desantis-plagiarizes-disney-in-latest-political-move-jnw1/) for MAGA-style hats promoting his presidential run. That font is so clearly Disney’s, he’s begging for a cease-and-desist nastygram at the very least, and since he’ll undoubtedly do the I’m-a-tough-guy response he’ll likely get dragged into court over it on a preliminary injunction motion and then face further legal woes. Has he considered how this will play with corporate types – yanno, the big money guys he needs to fund his campaign – who are keenly aware of the need to protect trademarks? He really is stupid, isn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2023, 1:08am 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/980249/633 "2023-05-05T01:08:08Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Has he considered how this will play with corporate types – yanno, the big money guys he needs to fund his campaign Surely, there’s enough dough in pillows and chicken fingers to give it a go. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2023, 1:08am 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/980249/634 "2023-05-05T01:08:26Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Has he considered how this will play with corporate types – yanno, the big money guys he needs to fund his campaign – who are keenly aware of the need to protect trademarks? He really is stupid, isn’t he? The evidence that money wins elections is weak. I don’t think he can beat Trump. But if he wants to have a chance, he has to run to DJT’s right. The same is true if he plans to come in #2 behind Trump in 2024 and then get the nomination in 2028. As for being sued by a big company for a trademark violation, this is such a complete nothingburger in today’s populist GOP. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2023, 1:11am 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/980249/635 "2023-05-05T01:11:08Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > As for being sued by a big company for a trademark violation, this is such a complete nothingburger in today’s populist GOP. But it will tie up time and money he needs for his political goals. And he’s already having trouble getting the big donors to back him. ---
**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:** [May 5, 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/980249/636 "2023-05-05T01:14:51Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > The evidence that money wins elections is weak. I don’t know that I’d go quite that far. There is a minimum number it takes to run a campaign. Even a virtual one that relies on lots of viral amplification. Short of that number you’re going nowhere. It’s hard for presidential wannabes to get to that minimum number on grassroots donations; it takes some big guns writing big checks. At the opposite extreme, you’re totally right that if (made up number) $150M is the usual price of a competitive presidential run, then having $450M to spend doesn’t triple your odds of success. There are strongly diminishing returns beyond a certain point once you have “enough”, however much that is. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 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/980249/637 "2023-05-05T01:52:03Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > There is a minimum number it takes to run a campaign. Even a virtual one that relies on lots of viral amplification. Short of that number you’re going nowhere. I don’t radically disagree but have a different spin. Over the years, I have read news stories, where it is stated as fact, that a candidate dropped out of a nomination race when their money ran out. But the underlying problem was that those candidates were not getting many votes. DeSantis will keep trying to win the nomination until it is a good deal clearer than now that he can’t win. He will rake in enough small contributions, until then, to keep semi-running, or actually running, even without rich contributors. He has already, without the trademark issue, lost the contributions [of the billionaire set](https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/peter-thiel-republican-megadonors-2024-rcna82722). It would be impossible to satisfy them without turning off the bulk of GOP primary voters. What with inflation, there are more and more billionaires, and the billionaire vote is trending Democratic. This means the Democrats will usually win the money race. But each party will still win about half the elections. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2023, 1:55am 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/980249/638 "2023-05-05T01:55:10Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > today’s populist GOP. That’s really the only way to describe it, isn’t it? It’s a grievance focused party for the rabble, always hunting for a scapegoat. It’s certainly not conservative anymore. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > you’re totally right that if (made up number) $150M is the usual price of a competitive presidential run, then having $450M to spend doesn’t triple your odds of success. Your off the cuff estimate is _way_ low. > [@](#): > > Biden’s campaign [became the first](https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2020/12/biden-campaign-1billion-from-donors/) to raise over $1 billion from donors. Biden’s cash advantage over Trump helped him [pepper swing states](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-101520/) with far more campaign ads. Biden also received more help from super PACs and [“dark money” groups](https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/27/politics/dark-money-democrats-joe-biden/index.html). > > Trump’s campaign raised $774 million. > **[Most expensive ever: 2020 election cost $14.4 billion](https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2021/02/2020-cycle-cost-14p4-billion-doubling-16/)** > > Political spending in the 2020 election totaled $14.4 billion, more than doubling the total cost of the record-breaking 2016 cycle. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2023, 2:03am 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/980249/639 "2023-05-05T02:03:25Z")
> [@"Moriarty](#): > > You’re off the cuff estimate is _way_ low. LSLGuy’s numbers were low, but I don’t think they were radically low. [Clinton’s unsuccessful campaign ($768 million in spending) outspent Trump’s successful one ($398 million) by nearly 2 to 1.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/04/14/somebody-just-put-a-price-tag-on-the-2016-election-its-a-doozy/) A lot of money is spent on campaign ads that annoy lots of voters. DeSantis won’t lose from having fewer. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2023, 2:05am 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/980249/640 "2023-05-05T02:05:43Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > the billionaire vote is trending Democratic Not if they vote for the people to whom they donate, according to this article from last November. > **[American billionaires’ political spending overwhelmingly leans Republican](https://news.yahoo.com/american-billionaires-political-spending-overwhelmingly-153200234.html)** > > American billionaires reached further than ever into pockets this US midterm election, and they overwhelmingly gave to Republican candidates. [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=31) [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=33)