|
Hello, Tomorrow Will Be Worse readers!
|
Every Tuesday, you get a newsletter from me in your inbox. But then sometimes I read another story on Puck and think, TWBW readers would probably really like this, too. Today, I wanted to share the work of my colleague Tina Nguyen. Tina, as I think I’ve mentioned before, is an amazingly knowledgeable sherpa in MAGA world, having spent time in conservative institutions herself. I read everything she writes because she’s way ahead of the curve in predicting and explaining what is coming out of that part of the American political spectrum. Today, she takes us inside the thinking in Ron DeSantis’s camp.
I hear a lot of Republicans in D.C. licking their lips at the prospect of a DeSantis candidacy in 2024: he is MAGA and Trump-y, but without the highly flammable baggage of Donald Trump. The quiet hope among these D.C. Republicans is that he could win the White House for the G.O.P. and deliver a Republican agenda far more cleanly than Trump ever did. But what happens if Trump decides to run? Should DeSantis run anyway? Wait till 2028? I’m not doing it justice, so read Tina’s excellent piece for yourself.
Enjoy!
Julia
|
|
|
The DeSantis ‘24 Paradox |
Trump’s now all-but-assured entry into the next White House race is already complicating the Florida governor’s ambitions to succeed him. But the agony of waiting his turn might outweigh the risk of challenging Trump head-on. |
|
|
Whatever the case, the clock will begin ticking for DeSantis as soon as he wins reelection in Florida, or Trump declares his ‘24 candidacy, whichever comes first. The shelf life for hot-shot political stars, after all, is short, and the road to the presidency is littered with governors who had a moment in the spotlight but couldn’t close. Bobby Jindal ran too late, after a second term filled with missteps. Ditto Chris Christie,who missed his chance in 2012 when he was red-hot and then got steamrolled by Trump. And don’t forget Sarah Palin, who passed up 2012 shortly before she was consumed by various tabloid dramas.
DeSantis’s status as a relative youngster (he’s 43), combined with his highly disciplined cultivation of his political career, might suggest he wait his turn. But the battles that have made DeSantis a Fox News idol for now—over the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, critical race theory, masking, and vaccine mandates—may be outdated by 2027, when the pandemic has been forgotten and Disney is replaced as a bogeyman with something else. Meanwhile, DeSantis has about $100 million in campaign cash burning a hole in his pocket. Some portion of that money is being spent on his reelection, but the elite G.O.P. donors and out-of-state billionaires filling his cup understand that its real purpose is to lay the foundation for something more. And it doesn’t necessarily hurt to try—“like Hillary Clinton in 2008, when she ran the first time,” observed G.O.P. consultant Ryan Girdusky. “Had she sat it out for whatever reason, she would have never been Obama’s Secretary of State, she would have never been waiting in the wings for eight years. If you run and you lose, there is opportunity for you. If you don't run, you close that window.”... |
|
|
|
FOUR STORIES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT |
|
This Town, Revisited |
A candid catch-up with Mark Leibovich, Washington’s preferred bard. |
JULIA IOFFE |
|
|
Zaslav's Superlawyer |
Daniel Petrocelli's next slate of cases could determine the future of Hollywood itself. |
ERIQ GARDNER |
|
|
Licht’s New No. 2 |
Licht is appointing a “head of editorial” to effectively function as the newsroom’s new Zucker. |
DYLAN BYERS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You received this message because you signed up to receive emails from Puck
Was this email forwarded to you?
Sign up for Puck here
Sent to
Unsubscribe
Interested in exploring our newsletter offerings?
Manage your preferences
Puck is published by Heat Media LLC.
64 Bank Street
New York, NY 10014
For support, just reply to this e-mail
For brand partnerships, email ads@puck.news |
|
|