In yet another misguided effort to win over the base, DeSantis is now attacking Trump from the right for being soft on crime, abortion, and public health mandates. For all of the reasons I have set out on several occasions, this approach isn’t going to work; Trump’s support from the base is unconditional, and focused more on style, identity issues, and entertainment value than legislative and administrative substance. But could these kinds of attacks drive Trump further to the right? And if so, would they present a problem for him in the general election?
The answer to both questions is yes. Trump prizes his connection to the base above everything except his ego, and he is prone to changing positions on the fly. It is easy to imagine him saying somethin spontaneous at a debate to make the reactionary crowd happy that would cost him dearly in the general election.
That is why, if Trump is smart, he will avoid the debates to the maximum extent possible.