What Went Wrong for Ron DeSantis in 2023?

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis entered 2023 as a popular potential alternative to former President Donald Trump but is finishing the year far behind him in the polls, drawing media perspectives.

“An Encouraging Lesson”: An opinion for The Nation (Left bias) said Desantis’ campaign was doomed to fail from its launch, and that “DeSantis’s richly deserved anguish and humiliation on the national stage” is “an encouraging moral for the rest of us.” The writer said several of DeSantis’ actions and views, including his particularly strict stances on immigration and abortion, are unpopular and have negatively affected his ratings.

Too Big To Fail: An opinion for Newsweek (Center bias) argued that no matter what DeSantis did, he would not have been able to beat Trump, who has been aided by the indictments against him and his diehard base. The writer dismissed many of the media criticisms of DeSantis as “ridiculous” and “nitpicky,” and praised DeSantis as “a deeply gifted conservative” who would be “a superb president.” The writer added that Trump supporters “just want their guy.”

A Grim Outlook: Jim Geraghty (Lean Right bias) of National Review (Right bias) addressed National Review readers who criticized him for a recent “gloomy assessment” of DeSantis’ chances at the polls. Geraghty cited recent turmoil in the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down, massive gaps in the polls, and mismanagement of funds as realities that illustrate why DeSantis is a longshot in the upcoming election.