Is Ron DeSantis not but prepared for prime time? His efficiency during the last couple of weeks has not instilled confidence. We’ve watched him flip-flop on every part from slicing entitlement applications, to his help of Ukraine. Now we have additionally seen Trump belittle him with nicknames like “Ron DeSanctimonious” and “Meatball Ron,” to not point out implying that he’s a “groomer.” (DeSantis additionally simply denied an anecdote in a Every day Beast report that he as soon as ate pudding with three fingers on a personal flight. Gross.)
This erratic habits appears to have left a mark. As The New York Occasions’ Nate Cohn wrote final week, “In surveys taken for the reason that Trump offensive started two months in the past, Mr. DeSantis, the Florida governor, has steadily misplaced floor towards Mr. Trump, whose personal numbers have elevated.” And that was earlier than DeSantis tried to have it each methods relating to the potential arrest of Donald Trump. (He criticized the prosecutor, whereas including, “I don’t know what goes into paying hush cash to a porn star to safe silence over some sort of alleged affair.”)
However I’m extra moved by what’s admittedly anecdotal: the vibes. Watch a clip of DeSantis’ recent interview with Piers Morgan, and he all of the sudden appears mortal. Widespread. He lacks the charisma and confidence that we see when he controls the setting and lectures Florida reporters.
What’s the issue? Like pornography, you recognize it if you see it. His physique language betrays him. He would not look comfy in his pores and skin. His laugh seems creepy. These criticisms could appear superficial, however simply ask Kamala Harris how politically damaging such perceptions might be.
Slaying a monster like Donald Trump requires a sure presence. However in his Piers Morgan interview, DeSantis comes throughout as a politician who desires to hit his speaking factors and show logically why he’s superior to Trump. And the factor is, you don’t slay dragons with logic. You want guts, coronary heart, and a razor-sharp sword (or, on this case, tongue).
The streets are plagued by the political corpses of males who appeared eight toes tall and bulletproof earlier than operating for president. Rick Perry was a rock star in Texas earlier than he ran for president. Fred Thompson was a literal film star. There have been others, together with Gen. Wes Clark and America’s Mayor Rudy Giuliani. I might go on.
I spent a while with Perry main as much as the 2012 presidential race. To be sincere, he appeared terrific. Solely later did I acknowledge that this was at all times in his milieu. Most of our interactions occurred at firing ranges or over barbecue, they usually at all times occurred in Texas. He managed the venue, and he put himself ready to excel.
Equally, I feel that DeSantis has been capable of stack the deck in his favor in Florida. The upside is that he was capable of domesticate a robust model as a troublesome but efficient chief. The hazard is that it is a type of protectionism. He has by no means needed to observe being exterior of his consolation zone. Till now.
In what has change into a legendary caught-on-camera soundbite, former Houston Oilers coach Jerry Glanville warns a referee that “NFL means ‘not for lengthy,’ if you make them fuckin’ calls.” Glanville’s message was profanely blunt, but additionally appropriate: “Up right here” (as they are saying) within the huge leagues, solely the very best of the very best survive. This lesson is one in every of many who Ron DeSantis is studying now—or is about to be taught.
This isn’t to decrease his wonderful accomplishments in Florida. DeSantis was re-elected there by a large margin. On prime of that, he has elevated his political profile sufficient to be Donald Trump’s undisputed rival throughout the GOP. That is a powerful feat, however the query stays: will he be Patrick Mahomes or Tim Tebow? Primarily based on the previous couple of weeks, it’s beginning to appear like the latter.
One downside for DeSantis is that Donald Trump modified the sport. The kind of schemes that labored for the Washington Redskins in 1987 in all probability wouldn’t maintain up when dealing with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs right this moment. The gamers are greater and sooner now, too. DeSantis had the posh of watching Trump change politics. And, to make certain, DeSantis has embraced many of those adjustments (as evidenced by his powerful demeanor and his flip-flops). However as Abe Greenwald just lately urged on The Commentary podcast, DeSantis “is a politician that really believes in some issues,” which—with regards to mendacity and pandering—makes him “dangerous at it.”
Positive, it’s theoretically doable that DeSantis might enhance on the path. However his efficiency over these final couple of weeks jogs my memory that he was a reasonably common pol earlier than Trump ever got here down that escalator.
And it’s more likely to worsen. Whereas DeSantis fends off Trump’s assaults (together with his argument that underneath DeSantis, Florida isn’t all that nice), he may even face scrutiny from nationwide media and be pressured to defend insurance policies he has piloted in Florida. These embrace insurance policies round LGBTQ and trans individuals, and different tradition war-slanted points (together with books being taken out of lecture rooms and eager to change laws that protect journalists) that he cleaved to outflank Trump on the correct.
All this to say, he shall be combating a two-front warfare. And he must do a lot of it on another person’s turf (in locations like Davenport, Iowa, or Manchester, New Hampshire).
Can he rise to the event? These previous couple of weeks, he appears smaller. He appears much less assured. He appears out of his league.