Rich wrote earlier about how Donald Trump skipping the debates could hurt Ron DeSantis. He noted how in any Republican debate free of Trump, DeSantis would end up being at the receiving end of attacks from all the other candidates. Additionally, he would have to face critical questioning that Trump would avoid.
There is also another problem for DeSantis. If he enters the stage and is forced to start scrapping with a group of other candidates polling in the single digits, it could make him appear small, as if he’s participating in one of the “kiddie table” debates we saw during the crowded 2016 primary. Meanwhile, Trump will be looming large from the outside, and reinforcing the view that he is the alpha dog in the race.