Washington: He is a rising star among conservatives for his embrace of a "anti-woke" agenda, which has contributed to his youth, lack of scandal, and unblemished reputation within the Republican Party.
Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, is running against Democratic incumbent Joe Biden for the White House in 2024, but he hasn't been able to touch Donald Trump, confounding observers who believe the former president is more vulnerable than ever.
On paper, Trump's chances of winning the nomination should be slim given that he was twice impeached during a single term, the Republicans lost ground in three election cycles, and he is currently the subject of criminal and civil investigations into allegations of misconduct.
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However, the 76-year-old Republican front-runner has surprised his detractors by taking a double-digit lead over his former protégé while DeSantis has been unable to take advantage of concerns about Trump's electability.
DeSantis has positioned himself to the Republican establishment as a less disorganised version of Trumpism than Trump himself. His official campaign launch is expected any day now.
In a state that was previously thought to be a swing vote, the governor easily won reelection last year and has received praise from the right for challenging Florida's liberals on issues like immigration, gun rights, and education.
However, a number of slip-ups have cast doubt on the 44-year-old former military officer's suitability for public office.
While the six-week abortion ban he signed into law has moderates worried that he is out of touch with public opinion, proponents of free market capitalism are baffled by a bitter and avoidable feud with Florida's largest employer Disney over its politics.
Along with being criticised for downplaying Russia's invasion of Ukraine and for giving "low-wattage" speeches during a recent trip to Britain, DeSantis has also been criticised for coming off as uncommitted to foreign policy.
DeSantis may be placing his hopes in his official launch to revive a campaign that is already in trouble, according to CNN political analyst Harry Enten.
Given Biden and Trump's significant advantages, Enten recently wrote in a commentary that "if it doesn't, this may end up being one of the most boring presidential primary seasons in the modern era."
DeSantis has seen Trump's 15-point lead from the end of March double in the most recent RealClearPolitics average of significant polls, but the momentum is clearly working against him.
Trump's support has increased from the low 40s to over 50 percent since his indictment on felony financial charges in New York, so it's not just that DeSantis is regressing.
Trump has demonstrated focus and self-control over weeks of relentless attacks on DeSantis despite that distraction, in addition to the threats of a civil rape case and criminal investigations into alleged election interference and the improper handling of government documents.
Spending millions on negative ads in the spring, the pro-Trump Make America Great Again political action committee portrayed DeSantis as a fervent opponent of welfare entitlements.
In one particularly stunning victory, Trump managed to secure the support of the majority of Florida's congressional delegation while DeSantis was out of the country in Washington.
As scrutiny increased during the campaign, DeSantis proved to be less impressive than expected, according to political analyst and University of Virginia professor Larry Sabato.
He struggles to establish connections with people, his speeches can be unimpressive, and he has made some strange decisions that have harmed him, such as taking such a hard line against Disney, an American icon.
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Perhaps DeSantis' greatest asset is his ability to raise money. He is rumoured to have a war chest for his campaign of up to $110 million, giving him more financial resources than either the Trump campaign or any other potential rival.
Trump, one of the most recognisable faces in the world, does not need to spend a fortune introducing himself to Americans because name recognition counts for more at the polls than actual, cold, hard cash.
Analysts caution against writing off DeSantis just yet, citing his appeal to the suburban voters Republicans will need most in the upcoming election.
Additionally, his supporters are arguing that the governor has a better chance of defeating Biden than Trump, who may have no chance of winning the presidency again.
According to Jason Osborne, the majority leader of the New Hampshire House, "Governor DeSantis is a proven effective leader," according to a recent recommendation made by the Florida governor's aides.
He has demonstrated his ability to fight against radical agendas attempting to undermine our society and change broken systems.
