'Time of crisis': Ron DeSantis, trying to catch Donald Trump, struggles to reinvigorate his 2024 campaign

WASHINGTON — Ron DeSantis is returning to the campaign trail.

It's a long trail strewn with obstacles for the Florida governor, beginning and ending with former President Donald Trump.

DeSantis briefly suspended his campaign after a mass shooting in Jacksonville in which three people died and Hurricane Idalia hit the state. The Florida governor still finds himself far behind the front-running Trump and fighting off other Republican challengers like former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

DeSantis, whose campaign schedule this week is focused mainly on interviews with local media in early contest states such as Iowa and New Hampshire, is hoping for a gradual, step-by-step comeback leading into actual voting at the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15.

And releasing a video this week touting his hurricane clean-up, the DeSantis campaign said he is "showing America what it looks like to have a strong, principled leader at the helm in a time of crisis."

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If DeSantis is going to gain ground in the crowded Republican field, his comeback must include:

Making a winning case against Donald Trump

DeSantis plans to continue arguing that he would simply be a better Republican nominee than Trump − a goal oddly complicated by the fact that the front-runner has been indicted in four criminal cases and could face trials throughout the 2024 campaign year.

So far, Trump has apparently persuaded resentful Republicans that the indictments are a political plot against him. He has built a formidable lead in Republican polls, much of it at the expense of DeSantis.

The current Real Clear Politics average of national polls of the Republican field has DeSantis in second place at 14.8% − but nearly 40 percentage points behind Trump, who is averaging 53.4%. That's despite, or in part because of, the cases against him.

DeSantis has been loathe to attack Trump over his legal problems. He has instead focused on policy and political differences, arguing that his opponent failed to live up to his promises during his time in the White House. DeSantis has also questioned Trump's ability to win a general election against President Joe Biden.

Fending off attacks by Donald Trump − and others

The Florida governor has to play offense and defense on the 2024 campaign trail.

DeSantis must contend with daily attacks from Trump and his allies, most of whom continue to regard the Florida governor as their biggest political threat.

Trump isn't the only candidate attacking DeSantis. Other Republican White House hopefuls are taking shots at the Florida governor, hoping to displace him as the main challenger to Trump.

Haley, coming off a well-reviewed performance at the first GOP primary debate, has recently touted a New Hampshire poll showing her tied with DeSantis for second place in the crucial state.

The poll from NMB Research put both DeSantis and Haley at 10%, both well behind Trump at 47%.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie hit DeSantis over his hurricane performance, knocking his decision not to meet with Biden as the president toured storm damage in Florida.

"Governor DeSantis has always played politics with this," Christie told CNN.

Pulling off debate performances

Like other Trump challengers, DeSantis is counting on performing well in upcoming debates, though there are questions as to whether Trump himself will appear on stage with the other candidates.

Trump did not show for the first debate Aug. 23 in Milwaukee and has suggested he will not attend a Sept. 27 set-to at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute in California.

DeSantis earned good marks for his performance in Milwaukee, but Trump's absence affected coverage of the debate. He hit Biden early on in the debate, but quickly pivoted to his vision for the country, including talking up signing a 6-week ban in Florida.

Avoiding big mistakes

Perhaps the biggest goal for DeSantis − and others − is to avoid big mistakes, whether in a debate or on the campaign trail.

DeSantis has had his share, hampering a campaign once thought to be a mortal political threat to Trump. Staff shakeups, reboots, and a botched rollout on what was then called Twitter have all contributed to DeSantis' struggles.

Before the first debate, a pro-DeSantis super PAC also posted a potential strategy online in an apparent attempt to communicate with the Florida governor's campaign without violating election rules. The document, which suggested “showing emotion,” signaled questions about DeSantis' awkwardness and likability he's facing as his campaign continues.

The memo also suggested that DeSantis go after some of his other rivals, particularly entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. 

Reversing the pattern

Through it all, DeSantis and aides have said that organization is the key to their hopes. That includes get out the vote operations, particularly in early states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

NBC News highlighted the scope of DeSantis' challenge in an analysis of three different polls − from the Wall Street Journal, CNN and Fox News – showing Trump growing his lead in recent months, despite his indictments.

"Altogether, the pattern is clear," NBC's Mark Murray and Alexandra Marquez wrote. "DeSantis’ national polling percentages have gone from the mid- to high-20s earlier this year to the teens now. And instead of battling directly with Trump, he's fighting fellow rivals for the right to remain the top alternative."