Free Republic

The G.O.P. contender’s campaign tried to take on Donald Trump’s online army. Now it just wants to end the meme wars. ---------------------------------- In early May, as Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida prepared to run for president, about a dozen right-wing social media influencers gathered at his pollster’s home for cocktails and a poolside buffet. The guests all had large followings or successful podcasts and were already fans of the governor. But Mr. DeSantis’s team wanted to turn them into a battalion of on-message surrogates who could tangle with Donald J. Trump and his supporters online. For some, however, the gathering...

A super PAC set up to back Ron DeSantis with $50 million is closing as donors backed out - while its founder said the Florida governor's campaign was guilty of 'rookie s**t' mistakes and he will now back Donald Trump. John Thomas, a Republican strategist known as the 'Billy the Kid of Political Battles' set up 'Ron to the Rescue' in November and had secured financial commitments from mega-wealthy donors. But he said the donors began having second thoughts after the botched DeSantis campaign launch on Twitter Spaces in May.

Ron DeSantis has replaced his campaign manager Generra Peck, in what is the third major reshuffling of his operations, a campaign spokesperson and a person familiar with the move confirmed to POLITICO. Peck will be shifted to a role of chief strategist as part of the new order. Taking her place atop the campaign will be James Uthmeier, who has served as chief of staff in DeSantis’ governor’s office.

Generra Peck, DeSantis’ top aide, is “hanging by a thread,” said a DeSantis donor who is close to the campaign. “It is the chatter among donors, and it extends beyond the first rung of the bundler class. Money people are losing confidence quickly,” a DeSantis money-bundler said. “It’s time for that kind of change. It’s time for a shake-up at the top.” “Governor DeSantis and Casey very much support her. I wouldn’t say it’s never going to happen, but right now her job is safe,” the DeSantis ally said. Phil Cox, former exec director RGA returned to the inner circle...

Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis has fired a number of his staff due to his struggling presidential campaign failing to meet fundraising goals, as well as burning through inordinate amounts of large, corporate donor cash less than two months after he announced that he was running for the Republican presidential nomination.The news came just days after National Pulse Editor-in-Chief predicted the “shake up” on The Campaign Trail podcast as well as on Twitter:[cut] Another major revelation is that just 15 percent of the DeSantis campaign’s donations came from “small-dollar donors,” compared to former president Donald Trump, who is heavily reliant...

With Florida governor Ron DeSantis expected to launch his presidential campaign in the coming weeks, there has been much speculation regarding whether or not he will be able to draw support away from the Republican frontrunner, Donald Trump, and emerge as a fresh new alternative for the party. Members of DeSantis' team have argued that, despite continously trailing the former president in the polls, the governor's base of support will expand as soon as he officially declares that he's running. According to Politico, DeSantis' team is confident that their guy has what it takes to become the nominee, with gubernatorial...

Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, is quietly assembling a senior staff for an expected 2024 presidential campaign that will be headed by his top political adviser, Generra Peck, and around seven other Republican operatives serving as top advisers, according to two people familiar with the matter. The leadership roster remains subject to change since the campaign – which could launch as soon as the start of next month – does not yet technically exist and most salaries are being paid, for the moment, through the state Republican party. But some of the senior staff have started to move in recent weeks...

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is on the cusp of making a final decision on a 2024 presidential run. Several Republicans familiar with the deliberations say that DeSantis is almost certain to seek the GOP’s presidential nomination. His advisers have begun reaching out to and interviewing potential hires for a campaign and are gaming out the best time to announce his intentions. A formal campaign launch is still months away, they say, and won’t likely come until after the state legislature wraps up its regular session in May. Two sources familiar with the plans said that the Florida governor could announce...