WASHINGTON (Realist English). Florida Governor Ron Desantis will find it extremely difficult to defend his position, competing with ex-President, The Economist weekly notes.
He has been criticised as an isolationist for dismissing the war in Ukraine as a mere “territorial dispute”, as an anti-corporatist for picking fights with Disney and as an extremist for signing a ban on abortion beyond six weeks… In 2016 Mr Trump ran as an insurgent. In 2020 he ran as the incumbent. For 2024, he is running as a hybrid of the two—insurrectionist and institutionalist all at once. It is proving to be a potent combination, which has helped to build a huge lead in the early polling. In 2020 he ran as the incumbent. For 2024, he is running as a hybrid of the two—insurrectionist and institutionalist all at once. It is proving to be a potent combination, which has helped to build a huge lead in the early polling. Among likely voters in the primary, Mr Trump retains the stature of a former president, but is also seen as the put-upon underdog, owing to his claims that the election of 2020 was stolen, his bans from social media and his many legal troubles.
The editorial board of The Economist believes that despite his failures in recent months, Desantis is an intelligent and purposeful person:
“Despite his stumbles in recent months, Mr. DeSantis is a clever and driven man. He may regain his lean and hungry look and let slip the dogs of war. Many voters will pay close attention to the televised debates, the first of which will be held in August in Wisconsin (although the former president may not participate). Mr DeSantis could point out that the national debt soared by $8trn during Mr Trump’s presidency; that crime and illegal immigration both increased despite all the former president’s big talk on both scores; that covid-19 was poorly contained.”
Thomas Seifert, deputy editor-in-chief of the Austrian newspaper Wiener Zeitung, emphasizes that Desantis is also betting on the polarization of society in his campaign:
“Many voters will pay close attention to the TV debates, the first of which will be held in August in Wisconsin, although the former president may not take part in them. Desantis could have noted that the national debt increased by $8 trillion during the Trump presidency, crime and illegal immigration increased, despite all the loud statements of the former president on both issues, the “COVID-19 pandemic was poorly contained.”
“At first glance, Desantis gives the impression of a kind of new reissue of Trump, but softer in rhetoric, not a fan of dramatic excesses — and in general a more easily elected politician. But this impression is deceptive. Recently, De Santis distinguished himself by banning abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy … If someone hoped that after the crazy years of Trump’s rule, the American right would try to nominate a candidate who would try to overcome the split in society to some extent and restore the culture of political debate and the competition of ideas, then he will be disappointed. The circus continues.”
On May 24, Florida Governor Ron De Santis filed a notice with the US Federal Election Commission about his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election. He will fight for the Republican Party nomination with former President Donald Trump.
