New Hampshire voting doesn’t look like other states − here’s why that matters for the Republican primary
The ConversationJAN 2024
Ron DeSantis Ends 2024 Run, Endorses Trump
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The Spin
Left narrative
Ron DeSantis had many attractive qualities to GOP voters — age, popularity, military experience, and even an Ivy League education. He is a star Republican governor of Florida, even besides his reputation as a competent politician and intellectual. Yet, his campaign never really took off, primarily because such old-world attributes don't count for much in the modern political landscape. Trump's campaign plays on divisions, which will see him jettisoned to the top of the GOP primaries to the detriment of US society.
Pro-Trump narrative
Ron DeSantis isn't a "people person" as far as opinions are concerned. To that extent, he is unfit to be a prominent politician, let alone president of the US. He tried being a bit of everything — Reagan, Trump, and even Viktor Orban. Yet, his sclerotic campaign's lack of originality reflected this state of play to voters. He got further in the presidential race than he deserved, especially against Donald Trump.
Metaculus Prediction
There's a 2% chance that Ron DeSantis will become US president by 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
