Quote (IceMage @ Jul 1 2023 02:25pm)
Goom, how can DeSantis effectively attack Trump?
I think his only opportunities are to point out how Trump listened to Fauci, he hired the wrong people, and he's surrounded by chaos/drama. DeSantis needs to make these criticisms carefully because if he comes across as too anti-Trump he has no chance with Republican voters.
Maybe DeSantis could try to distinguish himself on his own merits and record and platform. Donald Trump ran a positive campaign in 2016 while Hillary defined herself as the anti-Trump and ran almost all anti-Trump ads and she lost. Trump defined himself on economics, immigration, trade wars, deregulation, etc
If DeSantis puts his best foot forward and the electorate still prefers Trump than he should just accept this isn't his year and look to 2028 instead of burning out his goodwill with his base.
One things for sure, trying to outflank Trump by digging into the regressive, bigoted wing of the party instead of taking Trump's centrist populist position is neither a winning strategy nor healthy for the party. Trump ran as a pro gay marriage candidate that embraced the LGB republicans and embraced his black supporters and spent half his time talking about what he does for black and hispanic america. DeSantis just ran an overtly gaybashing ad, not just staking against a mainstream issue of 'trans activists mutilating kids'. Whats next, an ad calling for sundown towns and a new chinese exclusion act?
You don't out-trump trump by playing george wallace
This post was edited by Goomshill on Jul 1 2023 02:18pm