January 6 is, of course, the ultimate wedge issue for the GOP, and a particular problem for DeSantis. If he criticizes Trump’s actions, he alienates the man on golf cart’s following and diminishes his chances of winning a general election; if he doesn’t, he turns off moderate opinion and essentially admits that Trump should already be president, which destroys the rationale behind his candidacy. What should he do?
He’ll equivocate. He’ll do anything possible to avoid answering the question. He’ll diminish January 6 and change the subject. That’s what he’s been doing all along. Why would he stop?
The Democrats have been trying to force GOP candidates to give straightforward answers to the January 6 question for two years in order to split the extremists from the moderates. Ironically, now it will be Trump who will be doing the same thing. Whether he succeeds or not may determine the outcome of both the primaries and the general election.