Free Republic

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis claimed his early push for the White House was a burgeoning success in a fundraising call with donors Monday, telling backers that his conservative message is drawing “converts” from across the country. The Republican contender urged supporters to sustain their financial support as he barnstorms through crucial early-voting states, drawing bigger crowds than anticipated in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Republican 2024 presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy told Daily Caller editor Grayson Quay that he initially supported Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, but now believes that he is not the candidate to lead the Republican Party in the upcoming presidential election. DeSantis is expected to be former President Donald Trump’s main rival in the primary election as repeated polling has shown the Florida governor and former president to be neck-and-neck in a potential race. Ramaswamy formally entered the race on Feb. 21, and exclusively told Quay that he no longer believes DeSantis is the new leader of the Republican Party. Watch:

The pro-jobs tax plan being developed by establishment Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, is now being opposed by the Koch brothers’ advocacy group, Americans For Prosperity. The opposition of the Koch-funded group shows a widening clash between the GOP’s donors and Donald Trump’s expanding populist “Buy American, Hire American” coalition. So far, the two groups have clashed over cheap-labor immigration and Trump’s successful candidacy. That clash was garishly demonstrated late December, when Trump publicly booted a friend of David Koch off one of his golf courses, prompting Koch to also leave. Brothers Charles and David Koch opposed Trump during...

I talked to a friend yesterday...he told me of one dinner party at which two of the most prominent NeverTrumpers confessed why they want Hillary to win. They know they’ll have no access to the Trump White House if he wins. Nor would they have any access to a Hillary White House. The difference, however, is that their donor base would desert them in the event of a Trump victory, whereas they can raise money from donors in the event of a Hillary win. We had figured this out. We’re just surprised to hear them admit it.

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT RUSH: I sometimes wonder, and I'm sure you do, too, if the Republican Party really knows what they're up against. Let me tell you a little story here that happens to be true. I don't think the Republicans have the slightest idea. I think they are so far behind the times, in terms of where the culture is. They certainly do not know, I'm convinced, enough about their political opponents to effectively deal with 'em. Try this. This is a short little story, not a big deal. It's from CBS Eyeball News in Annapolis, Maryland. Just recently last...