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Donors’ qualms emerge about Ron DeSantis
Florida Politics ^ | April 25, 2023 5min | A.G. Gancarski

Posted on 04/25/2023 9:05:31 AM PDT by conservative98

As Gov. Ron DeSantis continues his tour of Asia, Israel and the United Kingdom, cracks may be emerging in his domestic donor fortress.

The latest indications of attrition come from a New York Times article, in which one of the Governor’s biggest backers is said to be “evaluating” the 2024 Primary landscape.

According to the Times, Citadel CEO Ken Griffin has been alienated by DeSantis’ framing of the Ukraine war as a “territorial dispute,” in a statement provided to the now-canceled Tucker Carlson show on Fox News. Additionally, the state’s new six-week abortion ban, which DeSantis messaged about tentatively during political speeches, reportedly rankled the financier.

While some in Griffin’s orbit still think it’s likely DeSantis continues to get his donations, others speculate Griffin may donate to other alternatives to Donald Trump in the still-nascent 2024 Republican field.

“Ken may not agree with all of the Governor’s policies, but he appreciates all that the Governor has done to make Florida one of the most attractive states to live and work in America,” a spokesman told the Times.

That stops far short of a ringing endorsement, and an on-record statement went no farther.
 
The Griffin report comes days after news that another significant donor, Thomas Peterffy, has begun to reevaluate DeSantis in the wake of the abortion ban and what The Guardian calls “book banning.” DeSantis, of course, says such reports are a “political narrative” and a “hoax.”

“I have put myself on hold. Because of his stance on abortion and book banning … myself, and a bunch of friends, are holding our powder dry,” the CEO of Interactive Brokers said this month.

“I am more reluctant to back him,” Peterffy added. “We are waiting to see who among the Primary candidates is most likely to be able to win the General, and then put all of our firepower behind them.”

DeSantis is down significantly in virtually all polls of the race conducted since the former President’s indictment and arrest in New York weeks ago.

Despite the recent setbacks, he has resources.

The supportive Never Back Down super PAC claims to have raised at least $30 million already. And the Friends of Ron DeSantis political committee raised more than $13.6 million in February and March, with more than $85 million cash on hand as of the end of last month.

In addition to leveraging the statewide political committee for a potential presidential run, DeSantis also intends to host donors at the taxpayer-funded Governor’s Mansion in coming weeks, according to the Times. So there’s still a path. But with prominent donors going on record with qualms, the path seems to narrow with each passing news cycle.


TOPICS: Israel; Japan; News/Current Events; US: Florida; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: 2024; blogpost; desantis; election2024; fl; florida; friendsofrondesantis; hesnotrunning; jeffroe; kengriffin; megadonors; neverbackdown; pleaseclap; thomaspeterffy; worldtour
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1 posted on 04/25/2023 9:05:31 AM PDT by conservative98
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To: conservative98

2 posted on 04/25/2023 9:07:20 AM PDT by conservative98
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To: conservative98
The latest indications of attrition come from a New York Times article

Haw Haw!!

3 posted on 04/25/2023 9:11:04 AM PDT by gr8eman (Stupid should hurt!!)
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To: conservative98
I have put myself on hold. Because of his stance on abortion and book banning … myself, and a bunch of friends, are holding our powder dry,” the CEO of Interactive Brokers said this month.

Sounds like a Democrat with terrible grammar.

4 posted on 04/25/2023 9:12:25 AM PDT by windsorknot
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To: windsorknot

It might be a 15 week abortion ban would be best. It’s viability. At 6 weeks it’s a heartbeat.

What did Goldwater say about moderation being no virtue? Extremism no vice?

The reaction to Roe being overturned is still being assessed. Everyone going to their corners except the Linda Grahams-preparation for the election when full assaults come out. We’re asleep at the switch. We got one chance to get it right. I’ll keep my money at home while the squishes make fools of themselves.


5 posted on 04/25/2023 9:22:08 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: windsorknot

Well, he was going to say “keeping our horses” but changed his mind.

Look money boys, if you want your abortion, go to the other party. You don’t have a right to all of the parties. You might lose money, but you still have your precious abortion.


6 posted on 04/25/2023 9:23:15 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("If you can’t say something nice . . . say the Rosary." [Red Badger])
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To: conservative98

We’d have a pretty First Lady - though she’s NO Melania. :)

Hey? Where’s ‘Dr.’ Jill these days? Haven’t heard much from her, what with her Grandpa running for President again and all.

Probably picking out her clothes for when they hold all their rallies, preparing to greet 50K fans at a time!

*SMIRK*


7 posted on 04/25/2023 9:23:56 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: conservative98

“come from the New York Times”... stopped right there.


8 posted on 04/25/2023 9:24:47 AM PDT by oldskoolwargamer2
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To: conservative98

Looks like they put DeSantis half way around the globe while they jettisoned Tucker.


9 posted on 04/25/2023 9:27:10 AM PDT by FreeReign
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To: conservative98

What business does the Governor of Florida have in Israel, the UK, and Japan?


10 posted on 04/25/2023 9:27:36 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: Boogieman

“What business does the Governor of Florida have in Israel, the UK, and Japan?”

And paid for at taxpayers’ expense. He is draining the Florida treasury for his personal ambition.


11 posted on 04/25/2023 9:31:13 AM PDT by Renfrew (Muscovia delenda est)
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To: Boogieman

Governors of States sometimes travel to other countries on trade missions, and trying to generate economic benefits for their states.

They sometimes travel to other states for the same reason.

It would be a rare Governor nowadays, to spend an entire four-year term of office , within the borders of his or her state.


12 posted on 04/25/2023 9:33:55 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Dilbert San Diego

“Governors of States sometimes travel to other countries on trade missions, and trying to generate economic benefits for their states.”

Sure. Is that what DeSantis is doing?

Or is this meant to plug the gaping hole in his “foreign policy” credentials?


13 posted on 04/25/2023 9:35:20 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: conservative98

He’ll either run or he won’t.
He’ll either get the nomination or he won’t.
Everything else is intellectual masturbation.


14 posted on 04/25/2023 9:36:05 AM PDT by bigbob
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To: Dilbert San Diego

Thanks for pointing this out.


15 posted on 04/25/2023 9:41:08 AM PDT by lastchance (Credo.)
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To: Boogieman

“What business does the Governor of Florida have in Israel, the UK, and Japan?”

Granted that DeSantis is prepping for a presidential run, but governors go to foreign countries to promote trade all the time.


16 posted on 04/25/2023 10:02:30 AM PDT by Pirate Ragnar (Be calm and act.)
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To: conservative98

“book banning” Right. Pulling porno from children’s books is fascist.


17 posted on 04/25/2023 10:03:58 AM PDT by Pirate Ragnar (Be calm and act.)
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To: conservative98

Nobody (Republican) is likely to win the 2024 general election and raise your hand if you didn’t know that. This is all Kabuki tneatre. Jesus Christ couldn’t win on the GOP ticket in 2024. 2020 has to get fixed.


18 posted on 04/25/2023 10:25:22 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: conservative98

19 posted on 04/25/2023 10:27:42 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: Boogieman

It’s not unusual for states to seek trade opportunities with foreign governments and vice versa. That’s how foreign automobile factories end up in one state and not another.


20 posted on 04/25/2023 10:28:51 AM PDT by skr (Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. - Proverbs 14:34)
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