Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who is widely expected to announce a presidential run in the coming days or weeks, has admitted that he is already losing to former President Donald Trump in the polls.
“It’s easy to be a frontrunner. It’s easy to go out and take positions that are really popular at the time. It’s harder to dig in are really cut against the grain.” DeSantis said in a recent video posted to Twitter by The Hill. Trump does have a lot of name recognition and he’s a very popular figure among Republicans.
DeSantis, who has been criticized by Trump for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida, has been trying to position himself as a more moderate alternative to Trump. However, he has struggled to gain traction with voters, who remain overwhelmingly loyal to the former president.
A recent poll by CBS News – YouGov found that Trump has a 36 point lead against DeSantis among Republicans. Read more on the poll here.
DeSantis’s admission that he is losing to Trump by not being the front runner comes as the former president is ramping up his own presidential campaign. Trump has been holding rallies across the country and has been fundraising at a record pace. He has also been attacking DeSantis, calling him a “meatball” and a “RINO” (Republican in name only).
It remains to be seen whether DeSantis will be able to overcome Trump’s lead in the polls. However, his admission that he is losing is a sign that he is facing an uphill battle.
Analysis
DeSantis’s admission that he is losing to Trump is a significant development in the 2024 Republican presidential race. It suggests that Trump remains the frontrunner for the nomination, despite the efforts of DeSantis and other potential challengers to unseat him.
DeSantis’s challenge is not insurmountable. He is a popular governor with a strong record of accomplishment. However, he will need to do something dramatic to close the gap with Trump in the polls. Otherwise, he will likely be relegated to the role of spoiler in the Republican primary.
The 2024 Republican presidential race is shaping up to be a battle between Trump and the establishment. DeSantis is the establishment’s best hope of defeating Trump, but he will need to do something big to win.
