I recently read a Trump supporter's opinion piece critical of DeSantis' decisions to enter, and to continue to compete in the Republican 2024 presidential race. The author, however, forgot to address the elephant in the room - Trump's legal problems. Who could have confidently predicted - 9 months ago when DeSantis threw his hat in the ring - that Leftist lawfare would NOT prevent Trump from running for President? Who can, with certainty, predict that today?
In my opinion DeSantis, all along, intended/intends to be the Plan B candidate in the event Leftists' lawfare takes down Trump. We are fools to NOT have an acceptable alternative candidate waiting in the wings. In my view, Nikki is NOT that acceptable alternative - I'd take Vivek over her despite the likelihood he could actually be a Manchurian Candidate. This leads me to conclude that DeSantis needs to be the second-place finisher in enough primaries to ensure Haley doesn't become, by default, the "in case of fire break glass" Plan B.
Here were the opinion author's other key observations (with which I agree): (1) DeSantis IS a MAGA conservative. (2) DeSantis has prior federal government experience (as a congressman). (3) DeSantis has military experience, including making tough decisions (in the Sandbox). And (4), DeSantis has demonstrated the ability to captain a fairly big ship (Florida). Which other Republican candidates check all of those boxes?
Unfortunately, DeSantis has been caught in that worst-of-all positions: believing, from the start, he was running as the Plan B alternative even though he knew that doing so would (now will) make him unpopular IF Plan A (Trump) succeeds.
This primary season is that rare occasion when rank-choice voting might actually be good. Trump - 1. DeSantis - 2. Vivek - 3. Haley - never.
DeSantis is clearly "taking one for the team." Rarely do such folks get credit for their actions until well after the fact.
As Leroy Jethro Gibbs was fond of saying, "Always have a Plan B."
