Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is facing challenges in his run for president, as his campaign continues to stumble. After a series of missteps, DeSantis has been rolling out his immigration policy and holding town halls with voters in an attempt to gain momentum. However, his campaign hit a roadblock this past week.
First, DeSantis’s team had to deal with allegations that they had shared a homophobic video on social media. Fellow Republicans criticized the campaign for this, casting doubts on the direction of DeSantis’s campaign. Additionally, a top spokesman for the main super PAC supporting DeSantis admitted that former President Donald Trump is the current frontrunner in the race, leaving DeSantis with an uphill battle.
Furthermore, DeSantis faced another mishap when he got soaked by rain during an Independence Day parade in New Hampshire, a crucial early nominating state where his super PAC has stopped running ads. Meanwhile, Trump hosted a rally in South Carolina that attracted thousands of supporters, reminding everyone of his enduring popularity within the Republican Party.
Despite these setbacks, DeSantis has been trying to differentiate himself from Trump by subtly contrasting their ages, temperaments, and records. However, this strategy has yet to gain traction in the polls. His campaign events have also failed to generate headlines, as his team has shielded him from unscripted interactions with voters and the media.
This shaky start to his campaign stands in stark contrast to DeSantis’s successful tenure as governor of Florida, where he has silenced opposition within his party and won elections against Democrats. It has also given hope to other primary candidates who aim to replace DeSantis as the most plausible alternative to Trump.
DeSantis’s strategy of trying to appeal to swing voters while moving to the right of Trump on certain issues risks alienating key constituencies, such as college-educated suburban voters and independents. Republican strategist Sarah Longwell suggests that instead of avoiding Trump, DeSantis should confront him directly.
National polls show DeSantis trailing Trump by a significant margin, and while he remains the leading challenger, it is still early in the race. DeSantis has shown fundraising prowess, and his super PAC is training field organizers in early voting states. However, it is too soon to predict how voters in states like Iowa and New Hampshire will ultimately cast their ballots.
DeSantis’s campaign has been rolled out in a deliberate phased approach, starting with introducing the candidate to audiences in key states, followed by town hall events, and now policy proposals. The focus has been on field operations rather than television ads, with the campaign believing that this approach will pay off in the long run.
While DeSantis’s campaign acknowledges the challenges of running against Trump, they remain confident that he can secure the nomination and defeat President Biden in the general election. The race is far from over, and DeSantis still has time to gain momentum and overcome the obstacles he has faced so far.
In the end, the success of DeSantis’s campaign will depend on his ability to differentiate himself from Trump and capture the attention and support of Republican voters. Only time will tell if he can turn his missteps into a successful run for the presidency.