Last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was asked by “Meet the Press” host and Democrat activist Kristen Welker whether he thought “the former president’s legal troubles are the reason that you’re still in this race.”
The nation’s most influential and successful governor answered, “[H]ad Alvin Bragg not politicized this back in April, I think probably the primary would be looking different. I mean, I think that that gave the former president more support. I think people felt that he was being treated unfairly, which he was, in that circumstance.” He added, “[T]hat, I think, has been a very important inflection point in this, because it highlights the weaponization of justice by some of these left-wing prosecutors. But here’s the thing, ultimately: It’s not about the past. It’s not about all these other issues.”
DeSantis was correct to note that the Alvin Bragg indictment was an “inflection point” for Trump’s success, but the governor would be wise to understand that his response to that indictment was also an inflection point for his own struggles with the GOP electorate.
Trump’s polling strength flows from his three large bases of support. He has the Make America Great Again (MAGA) enthusiasts who love him, his policies, his campaign, and even his brash personality. They’re the “ride or die” part of the base.
Trump has a second contingent of supporters who are simply nostalgic for 2019 and the type of presidency Trump had at that time. These are people who recognize that the country and
