Simply didn’t issue mandates himself (which is on-brand for a supposed repub), but also didn’t interfere with localities and private companies (especially private companies - very much off-brand for a supposed repub) who felt mandates were necessary. That’s what made DeSantis an impediment to vaccine uptake. IMO there is no governor who was more of an impediment to it.

To me, DeSantis made himself into the poster boy for owning the libs through Covid vulnerability. He will not lose in FL - I don’t think the dems even intend to make a serious run at him. I understand the national party plans to allocate no resources. But if he decides to run for pres, I would extrapolate how many fewer lives should have been lost with just average vax uptake, and pin it on him as the guy who devoted all his energy to anti-vax dog whistling as opposed to pushing the benefits. He spent his time and political capital obstructing, not selling the benefits, like of a long life, of the vaccines.

A lot of people in Florida died unnecessarily, and I think he deserves more blame for that than any other individual.