Will DeSantis, Rubio, and Scott torch each other in 2024 jockeying?

Running for president is not for the faint of heart, and the political landscape is littered with former governors and senators whose egos convinced them that statewide experience and successes were more than enough to propel them to the White House. They’re almost always wrong. At this moment, whether they acknowledge it or not, DeSantis, Rubio and Scott each probably have a team of loyalists poring through the others’ backgrounds with the hope of finding some kind of political dirt — a personal issue, a crippling misstatement, evidence that a staff member, financial backer or close associate once crossed an ethical or legal line. And that’s all before the Democrats turn their opposition-research army loose upon the candidate who survives the Florida flailing. If they choose to run, DeSantis will lean on his performance during the pandemic. Rubio will lean on his past presidential-candidate experience and his foreign policy chops. Scott will lean on his business background. Each probably secretly hopes that Trump will give “the wink” to signal to his millions of supporters that he has bestowed his seal of approval.