A few thoughts from the shock …
Ron DeSantis’ exit from the 2024 GOP presidential primary contests came as a surprise yesterday … but only in terms of timing. The Republican primary had not really been a question of the direction of the party. Nikki Haley and Chris Christie tried their best to make that argument, to little effect, especially in Iowa. The party wants pugnacious populism, for which DeSantis had clearly established credibility in Florida.
The question of this cycle was whether the party base still wanted Trump to be that leader. The polls consistently showed that more than half of the party wanted Trump, baggage and all. DeSantis bet that he could upend that commitment with ground organization and tireless politicking in Iowa.
DeSantis got his answer, as did we all. As long as Trump wants to lead that pugnacious populism, the populists want him as a leader. In…
