Ever since Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) found the national spotlight during the uncertainty of the Coronavirus pandemic, both the American electorate and the media have likened him to former President Donald Trump (R) in both policy and persona. However, throughout Gov. DeSantis’ presidential campaign, those backing their candidates – such as Christina Pushaw of the DeSantis campaign and Laura Loomer in support of Trump – have continuously searched for ways to distinguish their “guy” from the other.
Famed psychologist Sigmund Freud called it the “narcissism of small differences.”
It’s the theory that people within their own communities will go to great lengths to show their individuality to distinguish themselves from others, even though the people in their community are all very alike. In the sports realm, the Florida State-Florida rivalry or the Texas-Oklahoma rivalry are great examples of this.
However, in the political realm, there are similar instances of this kind of attempted separation of small differences.
In an appearance on Fox News, Gov. Ron DeSantis was asked about how he will separate himself from other candidates, especially when it comes to foreign policy.
“Well, we’re going to unveil a whole government approach to deal with what really is our top threat, the Chinese Communist Party. If you [at] look what’s happening in Gaza and Israel and Hamas, that’s all funded by Iran,” said DeSantis.
Upon hearing this, Laura Loomer said that DeSantis calling Hamas “a country” was “unbelievable.”
It was obvious that DeSantis had a bit of a Biden moment.
Wow! During his interview on @FoxNews today, @RonDeSantis said HAMAS was a country.
Unbelievable! How does he expect to be President if he doesn’t even know that HAMAS isn’t a country?
DeSantis isn’t ready for prime time.
How embarrassing.
Cc: @Heritage is this your boy? pic.twitter.com/X8tyrgmMjh
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) October 27, 2023
“Wow! During his interview on Fox News today, Ron DeSantis said HAMAS was a country. Unbelievable! How does he expect to be President if he doesn’t even know that HAMAS isn’t a country? DeSantis isn’t ready for prime time. How embarrassing,” said Loomer.
Moreover, Pushaw, as well as the DeSantis War Room, which she controls, just a few days later attempted to point out a mistake that President Trump made when he said that Hungary bordered Russia and Ukraine (it only borders Ukraine), and jabbed him for recently confusing Sioux Falls with Sioux City.
👁️👁️ https://t.co/XZhKRlfqGA pic.twitter.com/5K94cFQXK2
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) October 29, 2023
“Donald Trump claims Hungary has a border with Russia. It does not,” wrote the DeSantis War Room account.
Both of these mistakes, minor at the very worst, demonstrate the lengths to which campaigns and their allies have been willing to go in order to showcase their candidate's superiority.
Loomer and the rest of Trump's online surrogates and influencers have been besting Pushaw at her own game. The recent public opinion polls show that DeSantis is dropping in Iowa while Trump continues to increase his lead in the polls.
