Still another argument made for nominating Trump is that he’s the only person who can beat Biden. This also seems absurd. Polls don’t support it and logic doesn’t support it. It’s early in the game; but again, no one who doesn’t already prefer Trump will end up voting for him, and his bloc seems to be capped at around 46% or so. Plenty of people are unfamiliar with DeSantis and could move towards him in the general if by some chance he should be nominated, and as they see him debate (he’s smart and quick and no loose cannon). These are the people who hate Trump’s style and manner, and who want someone more “presidential.” DeSantis also has youth going for him, which Trump certainly does not.

In addition, some pro-Trump people say that, because of fraud, no Republican will win the general and so we must stand behind Trump on principle because he’s been so persecuted. This seems a very upside-down argument, one that concedes the election before the campaign has even really started. I think we need to reject such defeatist logic. What matters in an election is winning, not giving someone a pat on the back because that person has been wronged. Trump has been wronged, but that’s no reason to nominate him and lose. And yes, if DeSantis were to be the nominee, he would be attacked by the left just as viciously. But I think he’d be smarter about countering the attacks, and I think his personality is such that the attacks would be less likely to stick among the all-important moderate voters.

That doesn’t mean I think that DeSantis would win; the road is going to be very very hard for the eventual GOP nominee whether it’s Trump or DeSantis. But I think DeSantis has more of a chance to win.