Presidential hopeful and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delighted supporters as he waved to a crowd at a campaign event in Gilbert, South Carolina on June 2, 2023. However, the enthusiasm surrounding DeSantis’ campaign is starting to wane among his donors, despite his impressive fundraising efforts of $20 million since entering the race in May. Despite the hype surrounding his entry into the race, DeSantis is currently trailing behind front-runner Donald Trump in the polls. The Murdoch family, led by conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch, is reportedly losing interest in DeSantis as well. Concerns about DeSantis’ chances are being voiced by several donors, highlighting worries that he faces an uphill battle in trying to surpass Trump and that Trump maintains a significant lead in terms of Republican congressional endorsements. It’s important to note that many of the donors wished to remain anonymous in order to freely discuss their concerns.
One particularly influential donor, Ken Griffin, is reportedly still evaluating the field of GOP candidates. Other potential contenders for the presidency include former Vice President Mike Pence, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. Griffin had previously expressed his support for DeSantis, praising his record as Florida governor. Griffin’s stance has not been affected by public polling regarding DeSantis’ position, according to his spokesperson. Griffin’s contributions to pro-DeSantis entities, such as Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting DeSantis’ campaign, remain uncertain. The spokesperson for the super PAC did not mention Griffin when asked about the top individual donors.
Despite these concerns, DeSantis’ campaign maintains that he is not to be underestimated. Their focus is primarily on early primary and caucus states like Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Early polling indicates that DeSantis is currently trailing behind Trump in these states as well, but the campaign believes that the situation may change as the contests draw nearer. The DeSantis camp is putting effort into introducing him to early state voters and remains optimistic about his performance in Iowa and New Hampshire. They have also expressed their intention to participate in the August GOP primary debate, even if Trump chooses not to attend.
DeSantis’ fundraisers have pushed back against concerns raised by donors, emphasizing that national polling does not necessarily reflect state primaries. They believe that the current worries are unfounded and that DeSantis’ energetic campaign will ultimately lead to success. Despite the challenges, DeSantis is committed to raising significant funds throughout the summer and has planned fundraising events in various states, including the Hamptons, Colorado, Utah, and Wisconsin. A Cape Cod fundraiser is also scheduled for late July, with prominent figures such as Geoffrey Rehnert listed as co-hosts for the event.
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