The Republican Stakes for 2024

 

The Republicans have a problem for 2024: two obvious candidates. Trump gives every sign of intending to run again, and many will feel he deserves the chance. But many also worry that he is too old or too divisive, and want to rally around Ron DeSantis.

It would be best for the party if the two could make some deal. Yet a backroom deal is anathema to a populist movement. Ideally, they both go after the nomination, but obeying Reagan’s eleventh commandment: speak no ill of a fellow Republican. The party members and the public could decide. Yet the brand would not be tarnished. A contested nomination increases public interest, and, should one stumble, the other would be available. Once the matter is decided, as reward for sticking to the bargain, the loser would be chosen for the VP position. Either ticket would be awesome.

The problem is, this works better for DeSantis than Trump. For Trump, VP would probably still feel like a comedown. Rather than taking the VP position for himself, the deal might be that it goes to one of his children. 

Trump is also better with the bare knuckles than DeSantis is likely to be; because he is better than anyone. That, ironically, makes him a perfect VP candidate. But it means that a deal to be gentlemanly costs him more than it does DeSantis.