The race for the Republican presidential nomination is becoming clearer, even before it has really begun. Apart from President Trump and Governor DeSantis, all the other declared or exploring candidates are running for vice president, apart from Vice President Pence, who seems to be preoccupied with justifying his ambiguity about the validity of the 2020 election.

Polls show Mr. Trump running narrowly ahead of President Biden should they face off again for the presidency, and Mr. DeSantis is running well ahead of the incumbent president, but trailing Mr. Trump appreciably for the Republican nomination, apart from in Florida, the home state of both candidates.