Staff Reports
As the 2024 presidential election draws near, the debate over whether to nominate Donald Trump for president again is heating up within the Republican Party. Many conservatives, including the author of this article, believe that nominating Trump would be a self-destructive act. While Trump may have a chance of winning a general election, his controversial character and mounting legal woes make the GOP’s task of defeating an unpopular incumbent much more challenging than it should be.
Some Tough Love for the DeSantis Campaign https://t.co/zMzOLbRHXB
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 28, 2023
After the 1/6 riot and the GOP’s underwhelming midterm performance, conservative voters expressed misgivings about Trump’s candidacy. However, these concerns were short-lived, as many Republicans recognize Trump’s strong policy record and major victories during his presidency. Despite this, there are significant discrepancies between the GOP base and the rest of the electorate when it comes to Trump’s character and fitness for office. Ignoring this reality could prove detrimental to the party’s chances of winning in 2024.
Ron DeSantis is now well below 20% in our average of GOP primary pollshttps://t.co/IiynLLN561 pic.twitter.com/97CcSt3tzx
— G Elliott Morris (@gelliottmorris) July 27, 2023
Furthermore, the success of the Democratic Party in 2022 general elections, particularly when they supported specific Republican candidates in the primaries, demonstrates their ability to strategically choose their opponents and secure victories. The exception to this pattern was the 2016 election, but given recent events and the stakes involved, it would be unwise to assume that 2016 dynamics will be replicated next year. It is crucial for Republicans to take Biden’s record, unpopularity, and the extremism of his party into account. Although these conditions existed in 2022, Republicans failed to capitalize on them.
In light of these arguments, the author of this article openly opposes Trump’s 2024 candidacy and supports Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as a formidable challenger. While the author may not fully align with DeSantis on all issues, they recognize his appeal among various factions of the center-right coalition, including hardcore-MAGA supporters and non-Trump Republicans. DeSantis has been an excellent governor, achieving conservative wins while facing constant attacks from the national media.
However, the author acknowledges that DeSantis’ campaign is not going well. To secure the nomination, DeSantis needs to consolidate anti-Trump and ‘over-Trump’ factions within the party while also appealing to soft Trump supporters. Unfortunately, recent polls suggest that DeSantis is losing ground on both fronts. While it is still early in the race, Trump’s dominance in the political landscape has overshadowed other candidates, including DeSantis.
The author points out that DeSantis’ previous successes were achieved when the Republican base was united behind him. However, in the current race, many of those voters are supporting other campaigns, including Trump’s. This splintered base has disoriented the DeSantis campaign, leading to a ‘get to everyone’s right, on everything’ approach that may hinder his general election viability. Taking extreme right-wing and Very Online stances has not attracted the intended support and has alienated non-Trump Republican voters.
Despite these challenges, the author believes that DeSantis still has the potential to bridge the gap between Trumpy and traditional conservative voters. He has a track record of appealing to independents and even some Democrats in Florida. However, the current campaign strategy of bleeding-edge right-wingery and Twitter-brain pandering is not resonating with voters. Changes are needed if DeSantis wants to mount a serious challenge against the frontrunner.
In conclusion, the 2024 presidential election remains a topic of significant debate within the Republican Party. While there are legitimate concerns about nominating Trump again, the struggles of alternative candidates like Ron DeSantis highlight the significant challenges faced by those seeking to secure the GOP nomination. Finding the right balance between Trump supporters and the rest of the electorate will be crucial for any candidate’s success.
