In a recent discussion about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s presidential campaign and the 2024 GOP Primary, some have accused DeSantis and former President Donald Trump of engaging in an “outgrievance” competition rather than focusing on economic issues. But can a candidate like Chris Sununu change the game with a focus on fiscal responsibility, or is the culture of grievance too deeply ingrained in the party to make way for a more moderate voice?
The conversation on CNN This Morning centered on DeSantis’s record and whether his focus on cultural issues and grievances would put him ahead of Trump in the primaries. Host Erica Hill questioned whether there was room in the Republican Party for a more moderate candidate like New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who has emphasized economic and fiscal issues.
New York Times politics reporter Astead Herndon believed the GOP was in a different place than Hill and Sununu would like. He claimed that the driving force behind Trump’s version of the Republican Party was not wokeness, but grievance. Herndon posed the question: can DeSantis outgrieve Trump?
Alyssa Farah Griffin, from The View, didn’t give up on Sununu just yet. She pointed out that appealing to the more traditional right in a primary might not be the best strategy, as there are likely many GOP voters who wait until the general election to cast their vote. Sununu’s focus on the economy could potentially draw in these voters if he can mobilize them during the primaries.
Ultimately, it remains to be seen whether a candidate can successfully balance attention to cultural issues with a focus on economics, as well as whether the media will prioritize posing questions about economic policies over perpetuating the culture of grievance.
