Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor and potential presidential candidate, has faced challenges in his campaign, attributing his struggles to Trump’s legal issues and his own missteps.
Despite significant financial support, his strategy to win over “only Trump” voters rather than a broader base has been criticized.
DeSantis’ perceived lack of likability, social awkwardness, and focus on culture wars have hindered his appeal, leading to a decline in popularity as he actively campaigned. (Trending: Democrat Targets U.S. Troops With New Gun Control Law)
His inability to connect with voters in Iowa and New Hampshire, combined with a shift towards combative rhetoric, has further contributed to his challenges.
“If I could have one thing change, I wish Trump hadn’t been indicted on any of this stuff,” he said.
“It sucked out a lot of oxygen.”
“The race was decided totally out of their control,” one DeSantis donor said.
“Trump got indicted. And indicted and indicted and indicted. The race was over after the first indictment.”
“He started the primary on third base and stole second,” said David Jolly.
“We’ve now witnessed one of the most expensive and embarrassing collapses in Republican history.”
“He tried to ‘out-Trump’ Trump among Trump supporters instead of going for the ‘maybe Trump/move on from Trump’ voters, and it was a fatal strategic choice,” former New Hampshire Republican Party chair Fergus Cullen said.
“The idea of ‘a’ DeSantis was appealing, but the reality of ‘the’ DeSantis was repellent,” said Mac Stipanovich.
“It is telling that his favorite president is Calvin Coolidge, the avatar of anti-charisma in politics.”
“When you come across as a mean person who shows little empathy for the real concerns for citizens, and who always wants to make sure everyone in every room knows you think you are the smartest person there, it doesn’t go over all that well,” former Republican National Committee member Steve Duprey said.
“Focusing on Disney, wokeness, a little hippie college in Sarasota, and an abortion ban out of sync with most of America, instead of on the economy, the debt, the border, isn’t a winning formula.”
“Other than that, he’s nailing it.”
“Almost immediately, I’m certain that he wanted to be president of the United States. Not someday, but soon,” Stipanovich said.
“He got too much positive reinforcement for being negative. And he became addicted to it,” Stipanovich said.
“To me he never looked very happy,” an Iowa political operative said.
“A few of my congressional staff worked for him, and we all said the same thing,” said former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh.
“He’s just weird. Doesn’t know how to just normally interact with people.”
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