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Notes -
https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-250c8ed4b49843350e258f0c2754c8ba
Ron Desantis has dropped out of the republican presidential primary and endorsed Trump.
Now, obviously, this will not change the end result- Trump will win the primary and obtain the republican nomination. But, there is a dim chance that it takes Haley into the #1 spot in New Hampshire, embarrassing for Trump, by consolidating the anti-Trump vote. Granted this is an increase from like 5% to 10%, but it's more likely to give Nikki Haley a boost before a do-or-die primary for her. It's I guess dimly possible that there's a few voters undecided between Desantis and Haley who will now support Trump, but I have to think this isn't a very big group.
Ron Desantis will likely try to find a Trump cabinet position; but it seems likely that he won't get one. Trump's broadsides against Desantis have lasted long enough to think they might be genuine. I would expect Desantis to finish his term and then look into either a senate seat, or a run in 2028.
I expect that the main outcome of this is that Trump gets more attention before the end of the primary than he otherwise would have, and this is bad for him in the General because it gives him more time for gaffes and senior moments.
Of course, it could also free up more attention for Biden, giving him more time for gaffes and senior moments as well.
Seriously, whoever hosts the first Trump/Biden debate could save us all a lot of time and energy by just asking both candidates to draw a clock. It's all pretty sad.
But I guess we'll see what happens. VPs are going to be a lot more important this cycle.
There is absolutely no chance of a debate.
You think so? I'll bet there's a debate.
Gentleman’s wager of $5?
A debate in this case is: Donald Trump and Joe Biden in the same room on the same stage at the same time with the ability to interrupt each other, and a moderator.
Televised live.
I'm fine with all of that except ability to interrupt each other. I'd be happy if that were taken away. Or at least systematized--IIRC Scott proposed a system where each candidate has 1 minute of total interrupt time, and they can press a button at any time to turn off their opponent's mic and use it.
Yeah, but then you get into them basically having a 'town hall' or something that is close to the types of 'press conferences' (where the questions, answers, and people asking them are all pre-programmed) that Joe Biden has on the rare occasions where he is willing to speak to the public.
That doesn't feel like a debate at all, just like those "press conferences" don't feel like press conferences.
(I'm not saying that this is the optimal debate. I'm just saying that this is how the debates have gone for 20+ years, and I think this is the first cycle we won't have one)
I think you win (your point has been vindicated) if they do get rid of interruption, it's just not something I'm willing to bet against. I can't imagine the public would appreciate Biden skipping out on a debate entirely, so procedural changes are probably as far as he'd go to skew things in his favor.
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