Remember that Trump may be able to effectively gerrymander the primaries. If he has States he expects to win, he can get his minions to change the rules so they’re winner-take-all States while trying to turn pro-DeSantis States into proportional primaries. He can win even if he loses the popular vote or loses more primaries than he wins. Being in control of the GOP nationally and at State-level can help him out. And it wouldn’t shock if DeSantis went to the Republican Convention with more delegates than Trump but Trump staged a convention fight amid claims of rigged elections and threats to run as an Independent if DeSantis were to be nominated.
He can also use his lackeys at the GOP to give him a boost during the debates. The chair of the RNC, Ronna McDaniel, is one of his supporters, for example. If Trump engineers a big field onstage (rather than the smaller fish having an undercard debate), neither DeSantis or he would have much time to answer questions about their policies but Trump might benefit by butting in at will and humiliating the other candidates, especially DeSantis. He could even end up with MAGA moderators who allow him to behave as he wants.
Don’t assume Trump will fight fair.
He can also use his lackeys at the GOP to give him a boost during the debates. The chair of the RNC, Ronna McDaniel, is one of his supporters, for example. If Trump engineers a big field onstage (rather than the smaller fish having an undercard debate), neither DeSantis or he would have much time to answer questions about their policies but Trump might benefit by butting in at will and humiliating the other candidates, especially DeSantis. He could even end up with MAGA moderators who allow him to behave as he wants.
Don’t assume Trump will fight fair.