DeSantis Withdraws: Is Trump-DeSantis Now a Possibility?

It's official; Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has dropped out of the POTUS contest, reducing the candidates to two possibilities.

This narrows the GOP field down to two, as former UN Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is staying in, for the time being, although her odds of pulling off an upset are shrinking day by day. But the DeSantis withdrawal forces an interesting question: Is there a possibility, now, of a Trump-DeSantis ticket?

There would be some advantages to such a team-up. Ron DeSantis has been the consistent second-place finisher in polls and also in the Iowa caucuses, although that margin has grown very narrow in recent weeks. In his withdrawal announcement, he formally endorsed former President Trump, although it seemed to me that the endorsement was somewhat tepid. Even so, this could yield an interesting ticket, a redemption tour for Trump that would position one of America's most successful Republican governors to run for president in 2028.

There would also be disadvantages to this partnership, not the least of which is that to retain Florida's Electoral College votes, Trump would potentially have to relocate his formal residence out of the Sunshine State - back to his New York property, likely. The 2024 election, predictions by some aside, is not likely to be a 1968- or 1984-style landslide; the GOP will need every electoral vote. Also, VP picks are often made in favor of a candidate who brings a swing state along; Florida will go for Trump no matter who the VP candidate is.

Personally, though, I don't see a Trump-DeSantis ticket happening, much as I'd favor such a match. The former president has plenty of others to choose from, and there are a few who have already said, "No way, Jose." Let's take a look at some of the likely candidates.

First: Nikki Haley. While my colleague over at sister site Townhall, Kurt Schlichter, recently put her name forward up in recommendation, I can't agree; on one hand, Mrs. Haley is seen by too many Republicans (including me) as a 2004-style establishment neocon, and she has also said that she won't take the job. Meanwhile, she has recently questioned Trump's mental acuity, and Trump isn't one to easily forget a slight like that.

Second: Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY). Mrs. Stefanik seems to be campaigning for the job; she has been stumping for and writing for Trump at every opportunity. But her rating from the CPAC Center for Legislative Accountability is only a mild 50.8 percent. While Trump seems to like her, the VP job in this case needs to be someone who can pick up the populist ball and run with it. It's not clear Stefanik is that person.

Third: Vivek Ramaswamy. This guy has been pretty enthusiastically campaigning for the VP slot from the get-go. He talks like a Trump loyalist and his policy positions are decent - now - but he's an unknown quantity. There's a big difference between talking a good game on the campaign trail and holding the line in policy debates, and the country isn't in any kind of shape to handle unproven newcomers in such a crucial position.

Fourth: Tim Scott (R-SC). Senator Scott has a solid 90 percent rating from the CPAC Center for Legislative Accountability; he is from a state that should go Republican easily in 2024, but - while it really shouldn't - the fact is that his being black doesn't hurt any. He recently endorsed the former president rather enthusiastically, which the former South Carolina governor sure seems to have found unsettling.

Fifth and finally: South Dakota Governor Kristy Noem. She has been a long-term Trump supporter, and as a governor, she would be well-suited to be the heir apparent in 2028. I think she's a long shot, though; she doesn't bring a swing state along, and her national name recognition isn't up there with the other possibilities.

One of those others, of course, is Tucker Carlson, but I have a hard time taking that seriously. For one thing, I doubt Carlson would want to take the pay cut.

Were I able to snap my fingers and pick President Trump's VP candidate, I'd pick Ron DeSantis, even if that would mean Trump moving back to Manhattan. I'd like to see America's governor nicely positioned for 2028 because he brings great principles and stamina to the fight, and he's a young, energetic, dynamic type with enough charisma to bring in some swing voters - not to mention a great track record.

Just this morning, President Trump very graciously responded to Mr. DeSantis's endorsement. Could that be the first step towards a joint ticket? Color me skeptical, but still...

A VP pick can make or break a presidential campaign. (See: Paul Ryan.) The once and future (maybe) president has a tough choice ahead of him; there are plenty more candidates where these came from, and as we get closer to this summer's GOP convention, they'll be coming out of the woodwork, and the final choice may well be someone we never suspected. Even so, whoever former President Trump's veep pick ends up being, they should be aware going in that they are going up against a giggle-inducing "Dream Team."

Stay tuned! It's going to be an interesting spring and summer.