Fri Mar 17, 2023, 05:17 AM

Ron DeSantis has a Florida problem

Ron DeSantis has a Florida problem
The governor and presidential hopeful has a “huge advantage” in his home state that could ultimately hurt his electability.

And on one cultural issue that did hurt Republicans in the midterm elections — abortion — DeSantis is going even further to the right, preparing to sign a bill banning the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for rape and incest if victims offer proof of a crime.

“Wow,” said Amy Tarkanian, a former chair of the Republican Party in Nevada, where DeSantis traveled over the weekend. “A lot of people don’t even know they’re pregnant at six weeks. I’m pro-life, but that’s pretty extreme.”

In the run-up to the primary, DeSantis solidified his place as Trump’s chief rival for the nomination largely based on an electability argument. He was MAGA, like Trump, but without the former president’s baggage or toxicity to moderate Republicans and independents — the kind of voters Republicans will need to run Joe Biden from the White House next year.

But as DeSantis edges closer to announcing, he is testing the limits of how hard right he can go without undermining his rationale for running in the first place. It’s a significant risk in a primary in which Republican voters — sore from losing the White House in 2020 and a less-than-red-wave midterm two years later — are desperate to nominate a candidate who can win.

“In a way, the Republican dominance of the Florida Legislature may end up hurting DeSantis because his proposals can become reality,” said Barrett Marson, a Republican strategist in Arizona. “That may help him in a primary in Iowa or Texas or South Dakota, but in a general election in Arizona, Pennsylvania or Wisconsin, it could be ruinous for him.”

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/16/ron-desantis-florida-problem-2024-gop-primary-00087326

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31 replies	Author	Time	Post
Ron DeSantis has a Florida problem (Original post)	BlueWaveNeverEnd	Mar 17	OP
I think this is all speculation now	Dorian Gray	Mar 17	#1
the "less government" GOP certainly isnt there anymore. current party is all cultural wars	BlueWaveNeverEnd	Mar 17	#2
Absolutely correct	Dorian Gray	Mar 17	#3
If you don't mind me asking, how old are your parents?	Sky Jewels	Mar 17	#16
They're older	Dorian Gray	Mar 17	#22
If Trump ends up in jail, this will mean nothing. 35% of the GOP	Emile	Mar 17	#4
That will work for me.	joshdawg	Mar 17	#10
Let the RUIN begin....."Please proceed Governor."	ProudMNDemocrat	Mar 17	#5
Here in FL, DeSatan has exhibited many anti-social tendencies apparently ingrained for decades.	machoneman	Mar 17	#6
Eating pudding with his fingers?	JonAndKatePlusABird	Mar 17	#13
Yeah, in front of other people.	Mariana	Mar 17	#19
Been noticing that, too. He's ill-mannered, lacking social skills. And he's walking a dangerous	allegorical oracle	Mar 17	#27
Ron Desantis IS a Florida problem.	Ray Bruns	Mar 17	#7
There are two kinds of people -- those who have problems and know it, and	ancianita	Mar 17	#9
There are two kinds of people and I try to stay away from both of them	Ray Bruns	Mar 17	#12
K&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Excerpt DeSantis sticks his nose right into crotches and personal affairs.	RKP5637	Mar 17	#23
He is a national problem.	Chainfire	Mar 17	#14
He's like a cancer and it will likely spread. n/t	RKP5637	Mar 17	#24
Tell that to the Florida voters who helped him win by 20 points. Then think about what they tell you	ancianita	Mar 17	#8
Correct - and the voters that the OP seems to care about won't be voting in republican primaries	FBaggins	Mar 17	#17
That probably won't translate to much of the rest of the country.	Mariana	Mar 17	#20
You're right. Probably not. For all the reasons you say.	ancianita	Mar 17	#21
He kept a low profile in his first four years. His penchant for social engineering seemed to gear up	allegorical oracle	Mar 17	#28
They all do. So does Koch and his DeSantis donor network. Stealth is their game. Owning	ancianita	Mar 17	#29
Yep. The Kochs have been incredibly effective -- an insidious cancer on this country. nt	allegorical oracle	Mar 17	#30
Right. Just know that it's ONE Koch now. One brother's dead. The other in NY isn't involved.	ancianita	Mar 17	#31
Florida has a DeSantis problem.	Celerity	Mar 17	#11
Living in Florida feels like being in an occupied country right now,	Timeflyer	Mar 17	#15
It is, it used to be sort of calm and pleasant. But now everything is on edge and this asshole runs	RKP5637	Mar 17	#25
I can't imagine living in Florida (politics wise)	BlueWaveNeverEnd	Mar 17	#26
Tough SHIT.. oh yeah the magas are	Cha	Mar 17	#18

Response to BlueWaveNeverEnd (Original post)

Fri Mar 17, 2023, 06:14 AM

Dorian Gray (13,082 posts)

1. I think this is all speculation now

My mom (a right leaning voter in Florida who hates trump) seems to be embracing RDS. I think he gives the veneer of respectability for all the republicans who hated DT's undisciplined ego splattering all over the country. But, it is a veneer. My dad (similar voting profile to my mom) is more alert to RDS' using culture war and a cudgel, and he seems more willing to wait for a better candidate to emerge. (I don't think there will be one.)

Anyhow, they aren't the base of the party anymore. They're north-east polite republicans who want lower taxes, less government, and "respectability." They're old school Ralph Lauren wearing righties, and the party isn't there anymore.

Ron DeSantis has a Florida problem

1. I think this is all speculation now

2. the "less government" GOP certainly isnt there anymore. current party is all cultural wars

3. Absolutely correct

16. If you don't mind me asking, how old are your parents?

22. They're older

4. If Trump ends up in jail, this will mean nothing. 35% of the GOP

10. That will work for me.

5. Let the RUIN begin....."Please proceed Governor."

6. Here in FL, DeSatan has exhibited many anti-social tendencies apparently ingrained for decades.

13. Eating pudding with his fingers?

19. Yeah, in front of other people.

27. Been noticing that, too. He's ill-mannered, lacking social skills. And he's walking a dangerous

7. Ron Desantis IS a Florida problem.

9. There are two kinds of people -- those who have problems and know it, and

12. There are two kinds of people and I try to stay away from both of them

23. K&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Excerpt DeSantis sticks his nose right into crotches and personal affairs.

14. He is a national problem.

24. He's like a cancer and it will likely spread. n/t

8. Tell that to the Florida voters who helped him win by 20 points. Then think about what they tell you

17. Correct - and the voters that the OP seems to care about won't be voting in republican primaries

20. That probably won't translate to much of the rest of the country.

21. You're right. Probably not. For all the reasons you say.

28. He kept a low profile in his first four years. His penchant for social engineering seemed to gear up

29. They all do. So does Koch and his DeSantis donor network. Stealth is their game. Owning

30. Yep. The Kochs have been incredibly effective -- an insidious cancer on this country. nt

31. Right. Just know that it's ONE Koch now. One brother's dead. The other in NY isn't involved.

11. Florida has a DeSantis problem.

15. Living in Florida feels like being in an occupied country right now,

25. It is, it used to be sort of calm and pleasant. But now everything is on edge and this asshole runs

26. I can't imagine living in Florida (politics wise)

18. Tough SHIT.. oh yeah the magas are