Why this Iowa GOP voter wasn't blown away by Ron DeSantis

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' hardcore supporters continue to hope that he will overtake frontrunner Donald Trump in the 2024 GOP presidential primary, but so far, there are no signs of that happening. Polls released in late August show Trump leading DeSantis by 39 percent (Reuters/Ipsos), 44 percent (Morning Consult), 52 percent (New York Post) or 27 percent (Insider Advantage).

In contrast to fellow Republican presidential hopeful Chris Christie — who has been attacking Trump vigorously — DeSantis offers only mild criticism of the former president. Trump, however, isn't shy about making scathing attacks on the Florida governor.

In a New York Times article published on August 26, reporter Nicholas Nehamas describes DeSantis' interaction with a GOP voter he was trying to win over in Iowa.

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Nehamas explains, "Mr. DeSantis almost never criticizes Mr. Trump, who is leading him by double digits in Iowa and by nearly 40 points nationwide, unless prompted to do so. He has the difficult task of navigating the Trump Triangle, appealing to voters who like Mr. Trump's policies and brash manner; those who are aligned with his policies, but are tired of his legal troubles; and the Never Trump Republicans who want a return to the pre-Trump party."

In Iowa, Nehamas reports, 21-year-old Republican voter Ethan Masters asked DeSantis why he would make a better president than Trump. And the two-term Florida governor responded, "Well, I think, a few things. One is, I think I'm much more likely to actually get elected, which is very important. I could serve two terms. He'd be a lame duck on Day 1 even if he could get elected. I have a track record of appointing really good people to office."

DeSantis continued, "I think he appointed a lot of duds to office, and it really hurt his ability to get his agenda done. I also think I'm more likely to follow through on doing what I said I would do. You look in Florida, everything I promised, I did."

Nehamas notes that DeSantis didn't have "a breakout moment" during the first 2024 GOP presidential debate, hosted by Fox News in Milwaukee on Wednesday, August 23. But DeSantis' campaign, according to Nehamas, believes that his "path to victory is based on a slow-and-steady approach."

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Masters, Nehamas reports, wasn't "blown away" by DeSantis' response to his question but wasn't turned off either.

Masters told the Times, "I asked for his biggest selling point, and he gave me a list. But it was a pretty good list."

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The New York Times' full report is available at this link (subscription required).