Yes, Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign began with a 20-minute technical fiasco. But then the United States learned more about what a President DeSantis would be doing. A few things echoed familiarly: He wants to close the border with Mexico and assimilate more migrants, he wants to cut government spending, and he certainly doesn't want any U.S. troops involved in the war in Ukraine.
But he also wants to set up new accreditation systems for universities so that they only receive certain quality stamps if they do not engage in diversity and inclusion work. He also wants to fire the head of what he describes to the highly politicized FBI, and so with a new doctrine and a "zone of freedom" he wants to prevent China from increasing its influence in Latin America.
"End of the losing culture"
In many ways, Ron DeSantis is like his biggest opponent, Donald Trump, albeit without the "constant chaos" that one Republican voter told me. Populism is there, as is the popularity among the grassroots. But DeSantis — who recently signed a law banning most abortions in Florida — is far more conservative than Trump. And in one of several attempts to criticize Donald Trump without mentioning him by name, DeSantis said that "we must end the loser culture that has infected the Republican Party in recent years."
But right now, DeSantis is the loser. Support for Trump among Republicans is usually over 50 percent in the polls. DeSantis is second with about 20%, the big difference between them is believed to have attracted several others to get into the game. It will be a monumental task for DeSantis to try to come back, but don't believe those who claim it's. Barack Obama was far behind Hillary Clinton in the polls for a long time – but became president.
Relatively unknown
Several things also suggest that DeSantis may start breathing down Trump's neck in the future.
He is still relatively unknown outside of Florida. 28 percent of Republicans recently said they are curious to learn more about DeSantis. If he succeeds in shaping the voters' image of him in a good way, support for him will increase as he becomes better known.
In the same CNN/SRSS poll, DeSantis was the candidate most Republicans would consider voting for — if their first choice withdrew. 85 percent of Republicans would consider DeSantis. As other candidates throw in the towel over the next year, DeSantis needs to lure them over to his camp.
The many investigations against Donald Trump will not always positively affect support for Trump, as when he was recently indicted. More prosecution decisions are expected this summer, and the trial over hush money for Stormy Daniels and accounting fraud starts in March next year — amid the most intense time of the primary. DeSantis will be able to take advantage of that. If only he gets the technology to work going forward, that is.