DeSantis comes from a completely different wing of the party than Scott Walker or Rick Santorum. DeSantis governs and is perceived as more moderate by GOP primary voters, which is an enviable place to be for Republican candidates for president. DeSantis is much more analogous to Dubya in 2000 or Romney in 2012 than he is arch-conservatives who flamed-out like Cruz, Walker, Rubio, etc.
Whichever Republican captures the moderate/anti-establishment lane in 2024 will be the nominee, just like what happened in 2000, 2008, 2012 and 2016.
Secondly, his positive poll numbers with independents in Florida is suggestive of DeSantis' appeal to a general election electorate. He checks many of the same boxes Trump does while not being quite the anathema to suburbanites, so its hard to see how he's anything but an improvement over the Orange Cheetoh.
Not only that BUT look at the Fundraising by him. The Guy has raised almost 150 Millon $$$ in his 1st Term as Governor, unheard of.
That tells me not only is he liked about the Small Donor Class but also the big GOP Donor Class.
He ain't going to flame out like Scott Walker and the folks who think he will lose this year are grasping at straws.
