Absolutely those mfers “want” to be trump in the sense you mentioned. The no apologies lifestyle etc. And yes, DeSantis presents a more boring personality. But think about it from this perspective. One of the reasons trump lost in 2020 and why his candidates lost in midterms is bc that “no apologies” stance, while it won him redneck votes, lost all of the “moderate/suburban” traditionally GOP votes. All of the big name “never trumpers” will vote for DeSantis precisely bc he’s considered boring. All that extra shyt trump brought to the table is what they hated NOT his policies.
What have you seen that makes you think republicans who maybe abandoned trump wouldn’t vote for DeSantis?
Also many of the redneck types will gravitate to him because he’s seen as a “winner.” He “beat” Disney. He “beat” the “woke establishment.” He “beat” the media by ignoring them and winning re-election against a household name with “moderate” credentials by TWENTY PERCENTAGE POINTS. The “doesn’t give a fukk” is much more important to these people then the “rich and gets bytches.” And at the end of the day if it comes down to “vote DeSantis and we win” vs “don’t vote and allow Dems to win again” they will choose the former.
Yes Florida is now definitely a red state. But it’s never been red by 20 points.
I hope it’s true about the blackmail shyt.
Edit: forgot to add that there were a lot of true evangelical types that 1) never voted for trump bc they couldn’t reconcile their beliefs with his hedonistic lifestyle or 2) voted for him in 2016 bc “Hillary is evil” but didn’t in 2020 bc Biden isn’t as odious or bc hated what trump became or 3) voted for trump in 2016 and 2020 without regrets bc of what gave them BUT know he simply cannot win anymore (Franklin graham types).
Every. Single. One. Of. These. People. Will. Donate. Volunteer. Vote. Proselytize for him.
They love that he looks goofy bc they do too. They will love that he’s as right wing as trump but has a family with a cute wife who is a cancer survivor. Expect some long form 10 minute “ad” taking about how DeSantis stood by her side during these difficult moments. They’re going to eat up the “military veteran who used his Ivy League education to help safeguard amurrican interests in Iraq and Guantanamo bay” stuff he will repeat. They and even trumpanzees are really going to fall in love when they find out he has two Ivy League degrees but clearly tries very hard to somewhat hide that fact. He’s going to go on and on about how he “worked with seal team 1 to make sure they weren’t hamstrung” by the woke generals and DC establishment. Whether it makes sense or is even true will not even matter.
I'm not discounting DeSantis at all. He could easily win the nomination (if the trump attacks against him don't stick and the rumors about dirt on him turn out to be just that)
What I'm saying is that one on one trump vs DeSantis, trump has the advantage:
-higher name recognition
-cult-like devotion from the base
-big paper from donations from the cult and grifter sleazebags
Trump is also the undisputed master of zeroing in on an opponent's insecurities, getting into their head, and making their life a living hell
Sometimes it works (Crooked Hillary, Lyin' Ted, Little Marco, Low Energy Jeb, Coco Chow)
Sometimes it doesn't (Sleepy Joe, DeSanctimonious)
Speaking of, that first try at a demeaning nickname didn't work on DeSantis. Trust he'll come up with something better.
It's personal now. Trump probably at MAL throwing darts at a DeSantis pic on the wall and will stop at nothing to destroy him.