Doubling Down on the ‘L Word’

John Ellis: “Ron DeSantis says that Donald Trump is a loser and that the time has come for Republican primary voters and caucus attenders to leave him behind and get on with the task of winning elections. This is an odd way to address Trump voters, to put it mildly. You’re-a-loser-if-you-keep-voting-for-that-loser is not a winning message.”

“Polls reflect this. For a time after the 2022 mid-term elections, it appeared that DeSantis would emerge as the Savior, the one who could defeat Trump while holding ‘the base.’ Those hopes were quickly dashed by Trump’s announcement of candidacy, and the ineptitude of the DeSantis political operation’s response.”

“In the wake of DeSantis’s cliff-dive in national and key state polls, the DeSantis campaign has doubled down on ‘Loser Don’ and introduced the new-and-improved Retail Ron, who actually shakes hands, flips burgers and smiles at voters.”