As we have seen, DeSantis’ record on the pandemic has hardly been beyond reproach. What are his other vulnerabilities?
From the perspective of a GOP primary challenger, here they are:
- FOSSIL FUELS: DeSantis has been at least somewhat responsive to the concerns of his Florida constituents on environmental issues, including offshore drilling. That isn’t going to play well with people to whom fealty to fossil fuels is practically a religion, of whom there are a large number in the GOP. Expect this to come up early and often.
- BUDGET CUTTING: Instead of using the pandemic as a welcome excuse to cut state spending, as Rick Scott would have done, DeSantis has been happy to take federal money to avoid such cuts. Reactionaries don’t really care about spending, as long as they get what they see as their fair share, but CLs do.
- RELATIONS WITH BUSINESS: DeSantis is a pure reactionary. He cares about cultural issues and the base more than tax cuts and deregulation. He has interfered with business interests to appease the base on vaccinations and the wearing of masks. The WSJ will not be impressed, and will probably promote other, more business-friendly GOP candidates in the primaries.
Does any of this mean DeSantis can’t win? Not at all! The reactionaries are the largest faction in the GOP, and he hasn’t burned his bridges with business, as Josh Hawley, another prominent pure reactionary, probably has. He should start as the favorite if Trump doesn’t run.