DeSantis is close to proving there is an alternative to Trump. But is he the alternative?

Increasingly, DeSantis appears to be the stand-alone competitor to Trump in the upcoming Republican primary. As early as January 2022, I wrote about the potential Trump vs DeSantis stand-off. Since then, Trump’s polling has fallen slightly, while his negatives have fallen more aggressively, and DeSantis’ has increased slightly, and he remains relatively favourable. The latest Morning Consult polling has Trump 52%, DeSantis 26%, so there is still clear ground between the two. And even clearer ground between those two and the rest of the pack.

This, therefore, has been the story for coming up to a year and a half now. Are we expected to believe it’ll remain that way for another year and a half? It is, of course, possible. Trump is the expert at keeping himself in the lime-light, and DeSantis shows no obvious signs of falling off either— despite some personal oddities.

But let’s remember, we are just under a year before the first primaries and caucuses, and that means political winds will change. I’ve already written about some of DeSantis’ weaknesses. Namely, his personal lack of authenticity, the fact his political experience has come from a slightly bizarre state, Florida — although he is desperately trying to convince us he had a “midwest cultural upbringing”, and…