
<p>The number one reason for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to run for President is that President Biden and the Democrats fear him more than any other potential candidate – including former President Trump. ; We can know that from the constant drubbing DeSantis is getting from left-wing media. ; ;</p>



<p>MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough has made DeSantis his favorite attack target – even ahead of President Trump. ; In a back-handed way, Scarborough and his clan are promoting Trump. ; They want the former President to get the 2024 GOP nomination, figuring he is the easiest for Biden to beat.</p>



<p>Scarborough’s latest suggestion is for DeSantis to sit out the 2024 cycle. ; Scarborough argues that whether it is Trump or Biden in the White House in 2025, DeSantis would have a clear shot as the GOP nomination in 2028, and an easier path to the presidency. ; According to “Morning Joe,” he would not have to endure the withering attacks from Trump.</p>



<p>At this moment, DeSantis is the number one greatest threat to Trump’s return. ; National polls have them running neck-and-neck among GOP voters. ; That is very good news for DeSantis at this stage of the game. ; It means that a guy who has never run a national race is running even to a guy who has been in the news for decades – and has dominated the national headlines for the past seven years. ; All the other potential contenders are stuck in single digits. ; That can change a lot in the next 21 months – and certainly will.</p>



<p>With DeSantis in the race, it is less likely that a field of Republican candidates would divide the anti-Trump vote so evenly as to allow Trump to win early primaries with a relatively small plurality – as he did in 2016. ; It is also likely that DeSantis presence would deter a few of the potential contenders.</p>



<p>Not only is DeSantis competitive in the polls, but he is also popular with the major donors – and the small donors. ; In a Trump/DeSantis contest, the other candidates may not be able to acquire the necessary funding.</p>



<p>There is a big question mark hanging over the Republican Party. ; Where is the political center of gravity? ; Are most Republican voters eager to return Trump to the Oval Office as a means of settling old scores? Or is the majority eager to move on to new and younger leadership – leaving Democrats with an old lineup. ; It will not make much difference on issues since both DeSantis and Trump advance conservative policies.</p>



<p>The only way to answer that question is for DeSantis to run.</p>



<p>DeSantis’ two concerns should be getting into the ring too soon. ; Early frontrunners do not have a great track record. ; They tend to be targets of criticism from all the other contenders – and the voters get a little weary of them. ; Of course, one could argue that Trump is the early leader – and will suffer the jinx.</p>



<p>DeSantis&#8217;s second concern is to not get into a barroom fight with Trump. ; DeSantis is not the enemy of the Trump folks. ; He is a solid conservative. ; He will cut into the so-called Trump base. ; But he can attract Republican voters who are not committed – or opposed &#8212; to Trump. ; I know the press puts Trump’s “base” at 30 to 40 percent. ; I disagree. ; In a Trump/DeSantis race, I would put Trump’s locked-in vote at no more than 15 percent.</p>



<p>Some suggest that DeSantis is not ready for prime time. ; He is not a good campaigner – lacks charisma. ; They say he is not well known around the country.</p>



<p>I do not understand the last comment. ; He is extremely well known among Republican voters across the nation. ; Otherwise, his polling numbers would not be as good as they are. ; As the chief contender against Trump, he would have almost universal name recognition among voters.</p>



<p>DeSantis may not be as bombastic and flamboyant as Trump, but that could be more of an asset than a liability. Bombast and Flamboyancy are going out of style.</p>



<p>As I have written in the past … if you go by Trump’s and Biden’s ages, DeSantis could run in any presidential election up to and including 2054. ; But real opportunity usually comes only once – and this seems to be DeSantis’ year. ; (I would have said more absolutely that “opportunity comes only once,” but Biden is the exception to the rule.)</p>



<p>If I were DeSantis, I would keep them guessing for now – but I would be planning my entrance into the center ring of American politics later this year.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>

DeSantis Should Run For President
