Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is preparing to enter the 2024 presidential race, with former President Donald Trump appearing supportive. Early polls show Trump leading DeSantis by significant margins, but the governor faces several challenges. Firstly, DeSantis must prevent other candidates from drawing away his anti-Trump supporters and leaving him with no delegates. 

Additionally, he needs the backing of millions of Trump-friendly voters to secure the Republican nomination, making him hesitant to directly confront Trump. Trump has already criticized DeSantis on various fronts, creating a dilemma for the governor. DeSantis aims to attack Trump on ideology, portraying him as a Democrat, while Trump employs more straightforward and more personal attacks.

While DeSantis remains popular in Florida, it remains to be seen if he can win over Trump's supporters and withstand the attacks launched by the former president. Moreover, DeSantis must deal with Trump's refusal to accept defeat, as he is unlikely to concede even if DeSantis wins the nomination. This could lead to accusations of cheating and betrayal from Trump's populist movement, potentially costing DeSantis crucial votes in the general election against President Biden.