As a baseline, let’s review the outcome of CPAC’s 2021 straw poll from last February. The Hill reported Trump won “55 percent of respondents saying they would vote for him in a hypothetical 2024 primary” and “21 percent said they’d vote for DeSantis.” But, with Trump off the “primary ballot,” DeSantis earned 43 percent, with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) at 11 percent.

A year later, with DeSantis significantly raising his name ID and national profile, Trump has disparaged the popular governor. The former president said he would defeat DeSantis in a primary, bragged he was responsible for Ron’s success, called DeSantis “dull,” lacking in “personal charisma,” and indirectly accused him of being “gutless.” (The latter was thoughtless since DeSantis, then an active-duty Navy officer, won a Bronze Star serving as the legal adviser to Seal Team One in Fallujah, Iraq.)

As usual, Trump must attack any new shiny car coming on fast in his rearview mirror. And, if during his CPAC speech Trump sarcastically demeans DeSantis, that will guarantee endless rivalry stories.