Pop quiz for political junkies: What do Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) all have in common?

Answer: They are all two-term Republican governors who once made headlines as presidential contenders before failing utterly and fading into obscurity.

But “obscurity” only partially applies to DeSantis, since he is still the popular incumbent governor of the nation’s third-most-populated state. Given that term limits will end his governorship in January 2027, the website Florida Politics accurately summarized DeSantis’s unique situation when reporting a poll showing his approval rating at a net plus-six, reflecting "steady in-state support even as his national profile cools.”

“His national profile cools” is a phrase you would not have expected about DeSantis after Nov. 8, 2022, when he won reelection in a 19-point landslide in what was then still considered a top-tier battleground state.

The following day marked the most memorable media moment of the midterm elections. Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post published a full-page cover photo and headline calling DeSantis “DeFuture.” Translation: “DeWhite House future.” It was a flaming Murdoch spear aimed at then-former President Trump’s ego, but it facilitated what I call “DeCurse.”

The 2028 presidential campaign is now well underway. Potential candidates are conducting “invisible” primary campaigns — refining their messages, chasing headlines, growing their social media presence, identifying wealthy donors and recruiting top advisors. Media outlets are obsessed with horse-race candidate rankings, with

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