OK, we know that Trump swaggers. How do his opponents match up, based on my six indicators of swagger?
DeSantis meets the man test, and he has an athletic background, although it could be argued that baseball is no substitute for riding a horse and clearing brush on your ranch. He fails the other tests miserably. He exudes anger rather than self-confidence; he lacks an aura of celebrity or success; he seems more interested in policy than in pure exercises of faith and will; and he isn’t as big as Trump. If the two ever appear on a debate stage together, Trump will make every effort to dominate him, and will probably succeed.
With one exception, the rest of the field is no better. Nikki Haley doesn’t even pass the man test. Tim Scott is a black Mr. Rogers, not a force of nature. Ramaswamy is a nerd, and he doesn’t even disagree with Trump on anything. Not much hope there.
Christie is the exception. He meets several of the swagger tests. That’s what gives him a puncher’s chance.