Trump can’t dismiss Ron DeSantis — he’s never faced a GOP candidate like this before
By Michael Goodwin
May 27, 2023 9:49pm
On the night of Ron DeSantis’ campaign rollout, I was at a dinner talking politics with one of his supporters. As the man prepared to leave, he joked that “I’m going home to watch Ron DeSanctimonious.” Laughing and pointing to his head, the supporter said, “See, he’s even up here.”
“He” is Donald Trump, and he is in the head of every Republican voter and candidate. That’s what 800-pound gorillas do.
“DeSanctimonious” is, of course, Trump’s favorite put-down tag for the Florida governor. The mocking technique has served Trump well, just ask “low energy” Jeb Bush.
But DeSantis is no Jeb Bush and while it’s too soon to predict the outcome of a nomination race that will last a year, it’s certain that Trump is facing the best-funded, most successful and most prepared GOP opponent he’s ever faced.
For a host of reasons, including that Trump soon will turn 77 and his schtick is tired while DeSantis is a party superstar at just 44 and eager for a fight, insulting nicknames aren’t going to do the trick this time.
https://nypost.com/2023/05/27/trump-cant-dismiss-ron-desantis-hes-never-faced-a-gop-candidate-like-this/
