![]() ![]() He has taken note of past presidential efforts that saw resources sucked up by high-priced consultants and subcontractors who find work each cycle regardless of the outcome. A source with knowledge of his role at Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting DeSantis’ political aspirations, described him as an “unpaid adviser.” Generra Peck, who once worked with Cox and served as campaign manager for DeSantis’ reelection, is expected to assume the same role on his presidential campaign.ĭeSantis, who keeps a notoriously tight circle and is generally distrustful of Beltway operatives, is wary of growing too large too quickly, a source close to the campaign told CNN. Meanwhile, Phil Cox, a veteran Republican strategist who joined the governor’s team to oversee his reelection campaign and was expected to be a key figure in his future efforts is no longer near the helm of DeSantis’ political operation, people familiar with the matter said.Ĭox did not respond to a request for comment. On Monday, Bryan Griffin, a relatively recent addition to his executive office, announced he was resigning as press secretary, and a source said he was expected to join the campaign. Even as he is on the precipice of entering the primary, his political operation is still working to fill key roles in the nascent campaign. ![]() “If he checks his polling, maybe he’ll decide to wait four years.”ĭeSantis, 44, would enter the Republican nominating contest without a long-standing circle of trusted advisers with deep knowledge of presidential politics. “I think he has been focused on his reelection and focused on making an impact in Florida,” Sembler said. ![]() Mel Sembler, a longtime Republican donor based in Florida who is looking for an alternative to Trump, said he remains “crazy about” DeSantis, but is worried he missed his window. “Did he peak in January?” a Republican operative and veteran of several Florida races asked aloud, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid alienating the DeSantis team. But the larger questions now center on DeSantis himself and whether he has the fortitude to go the distance and compete with Trump. He is about to jump into the 2024 race in a far shakier position than most Republicans had imagined when the New York Post declared him “DeFUTURE.”Īs he introduces himself to Republican voters across the country, DeSantis presents his Florida record as a blueprint for a national platform. Trump tried to kill him in the cradle and that didn’t work.”īut the lofty expectations for his presidential candidacy have dramatically leveled off since DeSantis swept to a commanding reelection victory in Florida last fall. But you can’t count someone out who hasn’t started. Everyone is anxious to get started and push back against attacks and narratives. “The infrastructure is in place ready to launch,” said Nick Iarossi, a Tallahassee lobbyist close to DeSantis. Meanwhile, the buildout of the campaign has taken place for weeks absent a candidate, and though Trump currently holds a solid lead in GOP primary polls, DeSantis survived the onslaught of mudslinging without losing his status as the former president’s top rival. Turnout at his events, many in deeply red parts of the country where Trump has dominated, is notably strong and his appearance at local GOP fundraisers across the country helped raise more than $4.2 million in two months. He is poised to enter the race with as much money behind him, if not more, than anyone in the race not named Trump, with the intention of breaking fundraising records on the day he enters the race, CNN previously reported. That ended earlier this month, and DeSantis is finalizing the state budget and touring the state signing his conservative policy victories into law. DeSantis vowed he wouldn’t make a decision about the race until the state wrapped up its legislative session. Though some donors have grumbled about his recent performance and worry he’s already badly damaged by Donald Trump’s repeated attacks, within DeSantis’ insular team of trusted advisers, the roll out of his presidential campaign is right on schedule. Next week, he will meet with top fundraisers in South Florida, where he is expected to signal to them that it’s time to start asking their wealthy friends for checks. His political operation is currently moving into a new headquarters in Tallahassee while a super PAC closely aligned with the Florida Republican builds out a national campaign from Atlanta. Ron DeSantis finds himself on the cusp of an announcement that many of his supporters wished was already behind him.ĭeSantis is preparing to launch his White House bid before the end of the month, according to two sources with knowledge of the planning. Once seen as ascending toward a presidential campaign with momentum in his favor, Florida Gov. ![]()
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