Posted on 03/06/2023 11:47:26 AM PST by GulliverSwift
According to five Republicans familiar with the discussions, the governor’s top lieutenants have quietly recruited a network of conservative social media influencers as part of a broader attempt to circumvent the mainstream press and appeal directly to GOP primary voters nationwide.
And who are, according to the three Republicans who received the initial pitch, among the ranks in DeSantis’ digital army?
Jack Murphy, a podcast host and self-described “alpha-male giga chad” involved in a quasi-professional cuckolding porn scandal. John Cardillo, a former Newsmax TV host and unregistered arms dealer who allegedly stiffed the Ukrainian government for $200,000 worth of body armor plates. Christian Walker, Herschel Walker’s right-wing influencer son who helped tank his father’s Senate campaign. David Reaboi, a Hungary-loving and Qatar-hating bodybuilder with longstanding ties to John Bolton. And Caleb Hull, an ex-Trump digital strategist who has said some very, very racist things.
This is the DeSantis A-team, and they’re fighting a battle for a presidential campaign that hasn’t even started yet—with plenty of DeSantis face time, dinners, and photo ops.
The effort has picked up steam ever since Christina Pushaw, DeSantis’ perennially online rapid response director, moved from the governor’s office to his campaign in August of last year.
Pushaw, who has deep connections in right-wing media, has been reaching out—either in person or through intermediaries—to recruit conservative influencers, promising to boost their follower count and engagement with the help of an alleged “bot farm,” according to three Republican influencers who received the pitch.
“I didn’t realize I was being used,” said one of the conservative influencers who agreed to be interviewed on the condition of anonymity.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
which makes a lot of sense as he is committed to Florida until then, anyway.
...but I see it like this.
...have an opinion.
Cool
Hillary act II
He will let the Karl Rove types slander Trump while he smiles to the media like Bush, McCain and Romney. I see right through it plus John Carillo is one of the coup plotters against James O’Keefe.
I was leaning DeSantis like three months ago but the Ukraine war and the fact that Trump is against it and DeSantis is kind of wishy washy on this made me lean back to Trump.
Another red flag is the fact that the Paul Ryan types are lining up behind DeSantis, that makes me uneasy.
Cardillo was one of the coup plotters against James O’Keefe.
He is blacklisted in my book.
I agree that if Trump isn’t in the picture, Desantis is the most likely guy on deck.
However, if Desantis decides to go head to head against Trump, he will be crushed.
Hell, even fox news (all Desantis all the time), in FLORIDA, had to prompt the name Desantis when asking folks who they planned to support in 2024, every single person they asked stated Trump, and even when they PROMPTED it (lead the answer) to someone to get Desantis’ name in the Convo, the person still didn’t fully bite, and said they liked Desantis or Trump.
People are delusional if they think that the Trump supporters, who watched their votes be STOLEN in 2020, are going to show up en masse for someone else, or stay home in 2024 if Trump is on the ballot. They are going to crawl over broken glass if need be to cast their votes for Trump, PERIOD.
Desantis has a bright future, but if he decides to take Trump on head to head... odds are far far greater he will damage himself long term, than he will win the Primary.
Even if you give Desanitis Florida, which I am not sure you can even do... 24 states will have had their primaries before Florida even votes.. Even if Desantis were to take Florida, it would end up being similar situation to the Ohio Kasich in 2016. Way to little way too late to change the momentum or outcome of the Primaries.
If Trump runs, he’s the nominee, and he’s running.. now if some black swan event happens between now and next year, obviously things could change.. but I just don’t see any calculus where Trump isn’t the nominee by a country mile.
Obviously we’ll see how this plays out... but I really don’t see anyone, and I do mean anyone able to stop Trump from the nomination, his support is too big and too loyal that anyone else has a shot.
The Trump/DeSantis rivalry is mostly a media construct.
DeSantis is stepping aside for Trump this go-around but is ensuring that he will be seen as the logical alternative should Trump be forced to drop out of this race (i.e. health issues).
At the same time, he is establishing himself as a front-runner for 2028.
We are on the same team.
Don't let the Beast's unsourced bs get us infighting.
You really can’t argue with that. DeSantis has plenty of time. He can wait.
And don’t forget Rupert Moloch is steering his entire propaganda empire against Trump.
He’s trying to buy the nomination for DeSantis because of his hatred of populism. And he’s right! Trump will come for Moloch and his deep state friends.
My half-Swedish mother and my half-Italian father loved both Swedish and Italian meatballs. I prefer Italian meatball sandwiches. Time to get dinner!
Ruper Moloch, oh I love that!
I love that Bannon has declared war on Faux News. Other than Tucker, screw Faux News and Sean Hackity.
Yes I am enjoying Bannon finally telling the truth about evil Rupert, a man who corrupted television and film and then turned his attention to corrupting the Republican party.
His ass needs to be deported.
Trump is a billionaire. He’s spreading his money around all over..
He should stop looking like he’s running scared.
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