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Where did Ron DeSantis's campaign go wrong?

Ron DeSantis seemed like the frontrunner to beat Trump for the GOP presidential nomination … so, why is his campaign struggling? Today, we unpack the hype, the strategies and where it all went wrong.
A person stands while making a speech in front of a large sign.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a press conference to sign several bills related to public education and teacher pay, in Miami, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) (Rebecca Blackwell/The Associated Press)

In January, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis seemed like a real contender to win the GOP presidential nomination over former U.S. president Donald Trump.

His team pitched his Florida track record, electability and "war on woke" ideals as a Trump-like candidate without the baggage.

But now, just two months into his White House bid, DeSantis's campaign is in trouble. A New York Times/Siena College poll found the Florida Governor is trailing Trump by 37 percentage points nationally. Meanwhile, the campaign has undergone a reboot, firing staff, cutting costs and reevaluating its strategy.

Today, Isaac Arnsdorf, a national political reporter for the Washington Post and the author of Finish What We Started, takes us through the hype, the strategy and where the DeSantis campaign has gone wrong.

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