Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is making significant changes to his presidential campaign in an effort to compete with former President Donald J. Trump. This marks the third major restructuring in less than a month. DeSantis has removed his embattled campaign manager, Generra Peck, and replaced her with a loyalist from his governor’s office. Additionally, a top official from a pro-DeSantis super PAC will also assume an influential role within the campaign.
These changes come after a period of layoffs, financial concerns, and a shift in strategy for DeSantis, who is now heavily relying on an Iowa-or-bust approach. Despite his success in transforming Florida into a conservative stronghold, DeSantis has struggled to gain traction and live up to expectations as a formidable challenger to Trump.
The urgency for cutbacks became apparent when the DeSantis campaign received a letter from the Federal Election Commission revealing that $2.6 million in donations were mismarked for the primary election instead of the general election. As a result, the campaign’s available cash for the primary was significantly lower than initially reported. Taking over the campaign is James Uthmeier, the governor’s chief of staff, who has limited campaign experience. Additionally, David Polyansky, an architect of the early-state strategy at Never Back Down, will move from the super PAC to the campaign.
Instead of making sweeping changes all at once, DeSantis has opted for successive rounds of modifications, which have been a distraction as he tries to regain momentum. He has undertaken bus trips in Iowa, organized by his super PAC, as a cost-cutting measure. However, he has struggled to resonate with Republican primary voters. A recent poll showed that Trump is perceived as a stronger candidate against President Biden, eroding DeSantis’s positioning as a viable alternative.
DeSantis has faced the challenge of differentiating himself from Trump without alienating his supporters. Despite Trump’s recent indictment, DeSantis has refrained from denouncing him outright. Rick Tyler, a Republican strategist, believes DeSantis lacks the knowledge to successfully run for president and defeat Trump, emphasizing the failure of treating Trump as an explosive element.
Supporters remain optimistic that the shake-up in campaign leadership could revive DeSantis’s chances, particularly before the upcoming debate in Milwaukee. However, it remains uncertain if Trump will attend. The removal of Generra Peck, who oversaw DeSantis’s re-election as governor, was necessary as she was ill-suited for the campaign manager role. Her hasty building of the campaign team led to significant layoffs. Peck also faced criticism for allowing the “DeSantis War Room” Twitter account to post videos without proper approval, including a controversial anti-Trump video.
Concerns about campaign finances were raised during a retreat with donors in Utah, prompting discussions with DeSantis and his wife. James Uthmeier, while still serving as chief of staff, received a personal briefing on the situation, further emphasizing the financial strain. Uthmeier will take a leave of absence from his chief of staff position while serving within the campaign, and Alex Kelly will assume the role of acting chief of staff.
Staff turnover has been common in DeSantis’s past campaigns, and there has been limited overlap between previous campaign teams. Prior to his narrow victory in the 2018 gubernatorial race, DeSantis made significant changes when trailing Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum.
In conclusion, Governor Ron DeSantis is making further changes to his presidential campaign to better compete with Donald J. Trump. These adjustments come after financial concerns and a shift in strategy. Although DeSantis has been successful in Florida, he has struggled to gain traction on the national stage. The recent shake-up in campaign leadership and focus on Iowa may provide a fresh start, but challenges remain in differentiating himself from Trump.
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