The rehaul plan doesn’t reckon with DeSantis’ major flaws and challenges, ZeeshanAleem writes.
, DeSantis’ campaign wants to change up a few things to give the Florida governor a badly needed boost: more engagement with mainstream media; more focus on national — as opposed to Florida-focused — politics; and more small events instead of major campaign speeches.
But those changes don't add up to a promising strategy. DeSantis’ pivot from engaging only with friendly right-wing media to addressing more mainstream national media outlets — such as his recent sit-down with CNN — is good for democracy and is, generally speaking, a smart practice for a politician interested in governing the entire country.
DeSantis’ planned pivot to leaner events and more intimate engagement with voters in places like coffee shops is also a dead end. According to NBC’s report, the campaign sees this as a potential cost-cutting measure as it looks for ways to save cash. But if DeSantis is running an underdog campaign, one of the most efficient ways to rise in the polls is through big events, using the power of rousing oratory to attract attention to one’s message.
But if DeSantis is trying to lean in to a quiet style of voter engagement, that’s more likely to push him in the direction of greater obscurity. I can’t help but speculate that media criticism of DeSantis’ lack of charisma could be a factor here; perhaps DeSantis’ team senses that he’s not likely to win over many voters through soaring speeches, and that the campaign might as well use that reality as a way to save costs.
Overall, though, the reboot plan doesn’t reckon with DeSantis’ major flaws and challenges. His value proposition coming into the race is that he could be a competent alternative to Trump while still hewing to fundamental MAGA principles, both appealing to the establishment GOP-types who prefer working with a stable, predictable leader and the grassroots of the party eager to see a MAGA champion fighting on its behalf. But it’s not clear that there’s a path to the nomination through that lane.
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