DeSantis - already a national train wreck - is bleeding out in Florida
The sun sets on DeSantis in the Sunshine State
Nationally, the GOP primary polls make it clear that most Americans wonder what Floridians saw in Ron DeSantis. Now, even his home state crowd is wondering why they liked Ron in the first place. His approval in Florida is underwater. And his policies are scorned.
Here is how Florida Politics reported it:
"Florida voters are starting to turn on Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to new polling from Progress Florida and Florida Watch.
The organizations, collectively known as the Florida Communications and Research Hub, asked voters whether they approved of the Republican presidential candidate and found him underwater 52%-45%. DeSantis’ favorability rating is also in the negative, 50%-45%.
Compared to a year ago, when DeSantis was re-elected by nearly 20 points, the Hub’s polling shows nothing short of a nose-dive. As recently as February, the Governor’s approval rating was in the positive by double digits. By May it was a coin flip."
It is important to note that these are progressive polling organizations. The absolute numbers may slant in their political favor. However, the trend is unmistakable and significant. Many Floridians who once liked the Boy Blunder have changed their minds.
Ron’s policies have also received a thumbs down. The report continued:
"His ratings on key issues have also taken a turn for the worse. Six months ago, voters approved of his job addressing housing issues by an 11-point margin. The score has flipped and then some, with the December poll showing 62% disapproval and 29% approval. Health care affordability slipped from a plus-1 to a minus-14 and double-digit advantages on economic and public safety issues have all but evaporated."
DeSantis is term-limited. This mandated finish to his gubernatorial career must be a relief to the Florida GOP. They could ill afford what might have been a bloody primary in 2026. They themselves are in scandalous disarray. Their embattled Chairman is clinging to his position — despite the organization’s board stripping him of his power and cutting his salary to $1.
If you have not heard, Chairman Christian Ziegler, representing the family values party, has been accused of rape. While the charge is as yet unresolved, Christian, along with his wife, Bridget, have admitted to a sexual three-way with the victim.
You cannot make this stuff up.
How did Ron go from can’t miss to won’t be missed?
When Trump announced his 2024 presidential run in November 2022, the media agreed it was no more than a legal strategy to postpone his looming legal problems. His lackluster, D-list, campaign launch — following the GOP's disastrous midterms — gave weight to their opinion. The media was wrong. The MAGA cultists are drinking the Kool-Aid.
As 2023 dawned, the pools had Trump leading the pack with the support of 46% of Republican voters. The media promised this would be a temporary state of affairs. Florida Man, Ron DeSantis, fresh off a 20% thrashing of the Democrat Charlie Crist, trailed Trump by a manageable 10%. Far outstripping the rest of the GOP’s other contenders.
People who make a living predicting these things opined that as DeSantis picked off the also-rans, he would solidify the not-Trump vote. As people got to know him better, he would do nationally what he had done in Florida. And the congregation would embrace the smart, nimble, young ‘Trump without the drama’. The media was wrong again. DeSantis’s numbers infamously headed South.
In fairness, nobody anticipated Ron would prove the most overhyped and inept campaigner since … forever.
DeSantis reminds me of Mel Brooks's movie, ‘The Producers’ — except for one manifest difference. In the film, an opportunistic theater producer (Zero Mostel) machinates with a nebbish accountant (Gene Wilder) to create a flop.
Similarly, Ron constructed a campaign destined to fail. He overstaffed, overspent, burned through donations, pissed off the big money, and most egregiously starred a candidate with the grating, monotonic personality of an old-time mechanical alarm clock.
His anti-woke war on kids and truth left the audience shocked and bored. And his anti-corporate, thin-skinned petulance in the Disney imbroglio chilled the pro-business plutocrats.
Only the ending is different. Springtime for Hitler: A Gay Romp with Adolf and Eva at Berchtesgaden was a smash hit. DeSantis’ production should close on its opening night in Iowa. No gay romp for the homophobe.
Post-production
What will happen to DeSantis? He will not be the face of any conservative organization that wants to raise money or make a difference. He has none of the glad-handing bonhomie needed for lobbying. And it is hard to imagine anyone shelling out significant coin for him to speechify.
However, he is a ferally intelligent guy with a sadistic streak. The Kochs will find something for him to do.