Here Axios shows DeSantis doing well in Iowa and NH versus Trump. I see the main stream media is out to paint DeSantis as the new boogeyman. I'm not happy with quite a few things he's done lately but compared to Trump he is a way better alternative. DeSantis shows early state strength in Iowa and New Hampshire polls
Some Republicans I've talked to didn't like what DeSantis did with Disney, for example. But that's not new and wouldn't seem to explain the polling changes. I bet most of the GOP agrees with what he's been saying and doing with the "anti-woke" agenda in Florida - even if independents might not. Sounded to me like Trump talked about that stuff more than usual during rally this weekend, and I assume the Trump campaign sees the culture war issues are a positive for DeSantis and something they feel they have to put their own marker down on so DeSantis doesn't try to claim that mantle. I also doubt most Republican voters have been following the nuances of insurance and tort reform issues in Florida. Ultimately, I think DeSantis' challenge for the primary is probably not going to be so much issue-oriented but rather personality, charisma, and style. What people say about him is that he is smart but socially awkward and thin-skinned. If that's true, it certainly hasn't hurt him in Florida. But being in the national spotlight is a different ball game.
Already posted but once again. Wisconsin Gov Leads Republicans in Tight Iowa 2016 Race Should have also mentioned that the linked article was based on head-to-head polls. DeSantis will not be running against Trump head-to-head, in both Iowa and New Hampshire both candidates will be running in a crowded field. Although this article is over two months old it's still relevant. DeSantis Is Polling Well Against Trump — As Long As No One Else Runs As FiveThirtyEight’s Geoffrey Skelley has written, national polls conducted in the calendar year before the election are fairly predictive of who will eventually win the nomination. Or they would be … if this cycle’s polls weren’t all over the place. Some, like Morning Consult’s tracking poll, give former President Donald Trump a wide lead. Others, like a December survey from YouGov/The Economist, show Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis far ahead, despite the fact that he has not yet officially launched a campaign. But there’s a reason the polls disagree so much: They’re asking about different campaigns. Some surveys are asking about a hypothetical head-to-head race between Trump and DeSantis, while others are asking about a multiway battle royal among several Republicans. In one of these scenarios, DeSantis is the favorite; in the other, it’s Trump.
DeSantis hasn't reduced voter fraud in Florida. He's only tried to put up barriers to vote for people who might vote against him. 'Voter fraud' is a right-wing bogeyman that they use as an excuse to prevent certain people from being able to vote. He's weaponized his office to go after his political enemies and punish those who speak out against him. He's attempting to indoctrinate children by choosing what they can (and can't) be taught. He's going after the free press. He's marginalizing and demonizing subgroups (trans people!, drag queens!). All this stuff is straight out of the authoritarian playbook.
They said that with felons getting the right to vote a Republican would never win FL again. They said that with the massive relocation of Blue Staters that a Republican would never win FL again.
He really is great at protecting insecure white males from things they were already safe from, I'll give him that.
I have different concerns than aggrieved white males, so DeSantis gives me quite a bit to worry about.
That’s like saying last years Gators team has anything to do with this years team. Means zero. But reports of DeSantis flailing seem to not be happening at this time.
I think DeSantis is a tougher opponent for Biden than Trump would be. Biden already beat Trump by about seven million votes, and a lot of those were as much anti Trump votes that I'm not sure Trump can win back after his behavior since he lost last time. Also, Biden's advanced age would be highlighted by DeSantis' youth, but it would be harder for Trump to play that same card. Of course, even assuming DeSantis would be a stronger general election candidate, that says nothing about the GOP primary. Trump is charismatic, loves to insult people, doesn't play by traditional rules, and lies with astonishing ease. He's also entertaining to people. Maybe DeSantis can win without big tailgates and rallies, but to the extent GOP voters care about that stuff, I don't see DeSantis doing them nearly as effectively as Trump.
This, and this needs to be DeSantis's pitch, paired with the fact that the "red wave" Republicans kept talking about only happened in Florida, in large part thanks to DeSantis.
