Writing at The Liberal Patriot website, Daniel Cox parses the "likability" factor in politics and applies it to explaining Trump's big poll lead over DeSantis.
Political likeability is not simply about how much people like a candidate but how much they perceive the candidate likes them, sees them, and is able to validate their experiences and concerns.
Trump’s strength as a politician is not his penchant for defying norms but simply that he appears to like the people who like him; this more than anything creates the bond between Trump and his supporters.
Coming from what I estimate was a lower middle class background, DeSantis had to be very driven to excel at sports, hold part time jobs, and make his way into Ivy League degrees. It isn't clear he had much time or inclination to "hang out" and "be a buddy" along the way.
He has finally reached the level at which that experience deficit becomes a problem. His being tight with wife Casey and lack of other close friends says to me "introvert," something I relate to.
