I don't know around here, but back in 1921 in Italy D'Annunzio was well known after his Fiume adventure. Paradoxically, that made him less palatable to the rightist financial backers; he had overexposed himself. But if there is no Mussolini, then the second choice, I guess, would be D'Annunzio, still enormously popular among nationalists, anti-Communists, the officers and the conservatives in general.
Balbo is a fine candidate for succeeding Mussolini after the Fascists have attained power. But for replacing Mussolini before that, in the drive to power? I have my doubts. He's not well known outside his home region. Yes, he's a brave WWI veteran, but D'Annunzio is that too, and much more.