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ON NOVEMBER 8TH SOMEONE gained the $2bn Powerball, the biggest-ever lottery prize. On the identical day Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, gained a unique form of jackpot. Voters re-elected him by an almost 20-point margin—the widest by a Republican candidate for governor in Florida’s trendy historical past, and a surprising enchancment from 2018, when Mr DeSantis gained by simply 0.4%, due to an endorsement by Donald Trump. Mr DeSantis can also be the primary Republican governor to win closely Hispanic Miami-Dade County in 20 years. Consideration has already turned to what comes subsequent for him: “Two extra years!” chanted supporters at his victory rally—urging him to make a bid for the White Home in 2024. Mr DeSantis smiled.
If Mr Trump runs once more for president in 2024 (he has strongly hinted he may announce as early as subsequent week), he might discover himself pitted in opposition to Mr DeSantis within the Republican main. Who’s the favorite? Amongst Floridians, at the least, Mr DeSantis seems to have the sting: even earlier than his midterm victory, Information for Progress, a think-tank, polled seemingly Republican voters within the state and located that 44% mentioned they might vote for him if the presidential main have been held tomorrow. Some 42% mentioned they might assist Mr Trump (see chart). Solely 60% had a “very beneficial” opinion of Mr Trump, in contrast with 87% who gave Mr DeSantis prime marks.
The polling was restricted to Floridians; although Florida has traditionally been an essential swing state in presidential elections, main voters in Iowa and New Hampshire could have a much bigger say in selecting the Republican nominee for 2024. Nonetheless, Mr DeSantis’s relative recognition is outstanding in a state that Mr Trump gained simply two years in the past, and at the moment lives in. The previous president is aware of he faces a formidable rival. On the day earlier than the midterms, he threatened to “let you know issues about [Mr DeSantis] that gained’t be very flattering”. Many Republican voters discovered the timing of Mr Trump’s remarks inappropriate and tone-deaf, says Susan MacManus of the College of South Florida. After his re-election Mr DeSantis was dubbed “DeFUTURE” of the celebration by the New York Publish, a conservative paper that endorsed Mr Trump in 2020.
Mr DeSantis has introduced himself as Trump with out the luggage. He shot to nationwide consideration in the course of the covid-19 pandemic for opposing mandates for masks and vaccines. He shares Mr Trump’s populist tendencies, publicly attacking the media and “woke” corporations like Disney, and taking up culture-war points, together with the educating of intercourse schooling and gender identification in lecture rooms. However not like Mr Trump he has principally steered away from election denialism. “Hold Florida Free” has been Mr DeSantis’s marketing campaign mantra. However a rivalry with Mr Trump will not be prone to be freed from drama. ■
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