In the world of politics, popularity is often the key to success. And for Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, his lack of popularity proved to be his downfall as a presidential candidate. Despite his numerous accomplishments as governor, voters simply did not like him.
The timeline of DeSantis’ campaign tells a story of failure. From the start, he struggled to gain traction with voters. On January 29, 2024, at 11:05 am, he made his first campaign appearance, followed by another at 11:07 am.[0] However, these early efforts did little to boost his image. By January 29, 2024, at 11:36 am, it was clear that DeSantis was not resonating with the electorate.
As the days went on, DeSantis continued to face rejection from voters. On January 29, 2024, at 12:04 pm, he made yet another appearance, hoping to turn the tide in his favor. But it was all in vain. By January 29, 2024, at 5:20 pm, and again at 5:24 pm, DeSantis’ campaign was in shambles.
The following day, on January 30, 2024, at 8:12 am, DeSantis tried once more to salvage his campaign. But his efforts were met with indifference from voters. By January 30, 2024, at 2:47 pm, and again at 5:57 pm, it was clear that DeSantis’ presidential aspirations were doomed.
Despite the setbacks, some still held out hope for DeSantis. On January 30, 2024, at 8:14 am, there were whispers that he may try again in the future. And on January 30, 2024, at 4:40 pm, and again at 9:14 pm, these rumors persisted.
But the reality was that DeSantis had failed to capture the hearts and minds of voters. On January 30, 2024, at 8:24 am, and again at 11:23 am, his campaign was seen as a lost cause. And by January 30, 2024, at 4:53 pm, and again at 9:10 pm, it was clear that his chances of success were slim to none.
As the days turned into weeks, the truth became harder to deny. On January 30, 2024, at 9:34 pm, and again on January 31, 2024, at 5:01 pm, it was evident that DeSantis’ campaign was over. And on January 31, 2024, at 9:39 pm, the final nail was driven into the coffin of his presidential aspirations.
Looking back, there were many reasons why DeSantis failed as a candidate. Some blamed campaign incompetence, while others pointed to the enduring appeal of former President Trump.[1] But ultimately, the answer was simple: voters didn’t like him.
Steven Roberts, a professor at George Washington University, summed it up best when he said, “There are many reasons why Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida crashed and burned as a presidential candidate, but much of the explanation comes down to one simple conclusion: Voters didn’t like him.”
And it’s true. Despite his qualifications and accomplishments, DeSantis simply couldn’t win over the electorate. Like a dog food brand that dogs don’t like, his campaign was doomed from the start.
But all hope may not be lost for DeSantis. As Roberts points out, he is still young and has plenty of time to try again. Just as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ran for president multiple times before securing the nomination, DeSantis may have another shot in the future.[1]
The question now is whether voters and donors will see him as a more viable candidate the next time around.[1] Only time will tell. But for now, DeSantis must accept the reality of his failed campaign and learn from his mistakes. Perhaps with some reflection and a new strategy, he can find success in the future.
In the world of politics, nothing is ever certain. And while DeSantis may have crashed and burned as a presidential candidate, he still has the opportunity to rebuild and come back stronger than ever.[2] Whether he can overcome the obstacles that led to his failure remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: voters didn’t like him this time around, and that was his ultimate downfall.
0. “How the 2024 election will look without DeSantis” The Daily Orange, 22 Jan. 2024, http://qwww.dailyorange.com/2024/01/how-the-2024-election-will-look-without-desantis
1. “Opinion: DeSantis doesn’t seem to have a bright future ahead of him back in Florida” CNN, 29 Jan. 2024, https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/29/opinions/florida-desantis-trump-2028-prusher/index.html
2. “Voters didn’t like him | Columns | baytownsun.com” The Baytown Sun, 29 Jan. 2024, https://baytownsun.com/opinion/columns/voters-didn-t-like-him/article_294d5256-beff-11ee-87dd-93875bee3929.html
