FL_Ag1998 said:aggie93 said:I don't see SC as a game changer because you might have Haley and Scott still in the race. Trump should win anyway because it is a state that sets up for him well with a heavy rural, non college educated vote.FireAg said:
An Iowa win would make DeSantis relevant...no argument there...but would it be "game changing"? I mean, history says, "probably not"...
But it would at least solidify him as a potential threat to Trump...
But frankly, I think a win in South Carolina on Feb 3, followed by a win in Michigan on Feb 27 would be far more "game changing"...
If he has success there, then I look to Georgia's results on Mar 12 to be a real indication of whether or not Trump could remain viable, again assuming a DeSantis win in SoCar and Mich...
All things being equal, I think South Carolina has a high potential to foreshadow the fates of each campaign...
Iowa really just determines if there is a real race at all. If Trump crushes DeSantis in Iowa it's probably over. I don't see how DeSantis could recover from that barring something happening to Trump like a heart attack. If DeSantis wins it makes it into a longer race of attrition and that's better for DeSantis. Who really knows though, it's a very unusual cycle and I am expecting the unexpected.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I feel like Trump has put the most effort into S.C. so far. I think he's either
1) assuming very close losses or very close wins in IA and NH but planning on a big victory in SC to revitalize his campaign and be the turning point for him to take over, or
2) he's totally taking wins in IA and NH for granted and assuming a big victory in SC will put the nails in any remaining competitors coffins.
But SC should absolutely not be considered a do or die or game changer for Desantis unless he's just absolutely stunk it up in IA and NH. In SC you'll have Trump's efforts to date (see above), plus potentially Haley and Scott pulling votes. So SC on paper seems to be the biggest uphill battle for Desantis, IMO, and labeling that as the key to his campaign is almost intentionally setting him up for failure.
Between likely splitting the non Trump vote with Haley and Scott and the amount of non-educated voters in SC I wouldn't be surprised if the DeSantis campaign internally has already chalked it up as a loss. Either way without Scott or Haley dropping I have a really hard time seeing him winning there.