Why Trump is afraid that Florida Gov. DeSantis will run for president

Keep in mind in 2015 when then-candidate Donald Trump unfairly blasted Republican Sen. John McCain?

“He’s not a warfare hero,” Trump stated. “He was a warfare hero as a result of he was captured. I like those that weren’t captured.”

Republicans ought to take a cue from the previous president and ship him the next message: They like presidential candidates who haven’t been indicted (and throw in mendacity about shedding an election).

Following Trump’s current New York costs on allegedly falsifying enterprise data along side a 2016 hush cash payout to a porn star, he has been appearing additional defensive.

Regardless of the nonstop information protection and the drama which Trump thrives on, the publicity doesn’t appear to be rallying Republicans to him like some had predicted.

In the meantime, in Florida …

Whereas Trump is mired in his authorized troubles, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is touring to key states across the nation, boasting about what he has achieved as governor and the way Florida might function a mannequin for the nation. He was in my state of Michigan final week.

For probably the most half, DeSantis has ignored Trump – and Trump’s incessant assaults towards him. It’s driving the previous president nuts.

Will not take the bait:DeSantis has discovered The Donald’s kryptonite. Ignore him.

DeSantis is greater than anti-‘woke’:He simply delivered common faculty alternative

This week, Trump appears to have shifted his messaging about his seemingly GOP presidential competitors. Fairly than lobbing lazy name-calling DeSantis’ method, he’s outright pleading for the governor to not run. At the very least that’s what it seems like.

“Ron DeSantis is a younger man who shouldn’t be doing properly towards me within the polls, to place it mildly,” Trump wrote Monday on Fact Social. “I imagine that if he decides to run for President, which is able to solely harm and considerably divide the Republican Get together, he’ll lose the cherished and large MAGA vote, and by no means have the ability to efficiently run for workplace once more. If he stays Governor, which is what Florida voters assumed, it will be an entire totally different story…JUST SAYIN’ – However who is aware of?”

Later that day, Trump despatched out a information launch doubling down on earlier accusations that DeSantis ought to resign as governor if he runs for president.

Trump’s trying nervous

Trump’s doing all the pieces he can consider to dissuade DeSantis from getting within the race.

Why? As a result of Trump clearly realizes DeSantis poses the most important menace to him. And nothing scares Trump greater than the prospect of shedding (2020 anybody?).

A number of current polls level to troubles forward for Trump. One from ABC/Ipsos discovered Trump’s favorability ranking at solely 25%.

And whereas Trump nonetheless has a reasonably constant lead over DeSantis (who nonetheless hasn’t declared his candidacy) in nationwide polls, that benefit seems to be shrinking. In some particular person states, DeSantis is main.

Trump needs you to assume he is the sufferer:Possibly he is only a unhealthy dude

DeSantis does not have the luggage

A current survey from Points & Insights and the pollster TIPP discovered that previously month, Trump has misplaced assist amongst Republicans and right-leaning independents. He nonetheless has a wholesome lead amongst GOP presidential contenders with 47%, however that has dropped from 51%. Throughout the identical timeframe, assist for DeSantis grew to 23% from 22%.

No different declared or seemingly GOP candidate is even shut at this level. That’s clearly sufficient to make Trump fret about his fellow Floridian.

With different indictments attainable on the horizon for Trump, it’s exhausting to know the way this may all play out with the Republican base.

No matter how politicized most of those investigations have been, it appears voters on the proper are more and more prepared for a recent candidate – and one who hasn’t been indicted.

Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@usatoday.com or on Twitter: @Ingrid_Jacques

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