DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Moms for Liberty emerge as a force in the 2024 race
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The Republican candidates' courting of the group's members signifies its arrival as a major conservative player in national politics. Volunteers sporting shirts with the group’s logo could be seen working recently at DeSantis’ presidential campaign events in Iowa. COURTING MOMSOther Republican candidates also are cozying up to Moms for Liberty, which now claims 120,000 members in 44 states. Advocacy groups such as People For the American Way, ACT UP, Defense of Democracy and a Facebook-based effort called STOP Moms for Liberty organized protests in Philadelphia ahead of the Moms for Liberty conference. She said Moms for Liberty remains largely concerned with learning loss connected to school closures from the pandemic and that its opposition is driven by politics.

Persons: Robin Steenman, Judith, Brett Craig, Read, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, “, ”, Tina Descovich, Tim Scott, Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, Descovich, DeSantis, Jazmyn Henderson, ” Bryan Griffin, Griffin, Nathan Layne, Colleen Jenkins, Alistair Bell Organizations: Liberty, Republican, Heritage Foundation, Leadership Institute, Trump, Iowa, Former South Carolina, Southern Poverty Law Center, Reuters, Way, ACT UP, Defense of Democracy, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Philadelphia, Florida, Iowa, U.S, South Carolina

The exemption is allowed so long as Super PACs stay independent of the campaign they are supporting. This year's record spending by outside groups has been fueled in part by massive transfers by political groups tied to the candidates. "We've never had anything quite like this before in campaign finance," said Saurav Ghosh, a lawyer at the Campaign Legal Center. 'DISASSOCIATED'The Trump and DeSantis campaigns did not respond to requests for comment, but both Super PACs said the transfers were legal. "Campaign Legal Center is a fringe leftist organization that exists to file frivolous complaints," said MAGA Inc spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer.

Persons: Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Trump, DeSantis, MAGA, Stuart McPhail, We've, Saurav Ghosh, Alex Pfeiffer, Trevor Potter, John McCain, McPhail, Jason Lange, Nathan Layne, James Oliphant, Scott Malone, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: Florida, Republican, Inc, Federal, Commission, MAGA Inc, Citizens, MAGA, Republicans, Democrats, Social Security, Trump, DeSantis, Super PAC, Thomson Locations: Florida, Washington, Wilton , Connecticut

☆ DeSantis details hardline border plan, looking to compete with Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

National opinion polls show DeSantis trailing Trump by more than 20 percentage points. After touting his record as Florida governor for weeks on the campaign trail, DeSantis is slowly rolling out national policy programs. As part of his border plan, DeSantis would end so-called “catch and release” and would detain migrants crossing the border until their hearing dates; deny entry to any migrant at the border claiming political asylum; and tax remittances from migrants living in the country illegally to pay for the construction of a border wall. Trump has also pledged to end birthright citizenship and to continue the hardline immigration policies he instituted as president. While president in 2018, Trump said he planned to issue an executive order to limit birthright citizenship, but never followed through.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump, DeSantis, ” DeSantis, “, Trump, ”, Ammar Moussa, Joe Biden's, James Oliphant, Colleen Jenkins, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: U.S, Trump, House, Energy, Democratic National Committee, Supreme, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Florida, Mexico, Eagle Pass , Texas, Rio Grande, DeSantis ’, Trump, United States, Texas, California, Massachusetts

"I told you when I ran for president, I'd have your back, and I have," Biden told the approximately 2,000 union members in attendance. [1/7] U.S. President Joe Biden turns towards a cheering crowd during a labor union event at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 17, 2023. White working-class union voters were divided on Biden in 2020, but he now has their support, according to some union leaders. "There is not one labor leader worth their salt in Philadelphia that hasn't recognized just how much President Biden has supported men and women in labor. Union voters helped Biden win critical election battleground states including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan in 2020.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Kamala Harris, I'd, you've, Donald Trump, They're, Tom Brenner, White, Trump, Ryan Boyer, Boyer, Seth Harris, Harris, Nandita Bose, Jarrett Renshaw, James Oliphant, Will Dunham, Heather Timmons, Bill Berkrot Organizations: PHILADELPHIA, AFL, CIO, Democratic, Republican, Republicans, Center, REUTERS, Trump, Biden, boilermakers, steelworkers, Union, Labor, Edison Research, United Auto Workers, White, Northeastern University, Thomson Locations: Philadelphia, U.S, Washington, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, United States, Boston

WASHINGTON, June 15 (Reuters) - Miami Mayor Francis Suarez announced on Thursday he is running for president, joining a host of Republican candidates vying for the 2024 nomination days after front-runner Donald Trump faced federal charges in his city. Suarez, 45, released a campaign video titled "I'm Running," which showed him jogging around the south Florida city. "Being the only Hispanic candidate from either party allows me to connect with a growing segment of our population," Suarez said. Suarez has had thorny relationships with both Trump and DeSantis. He did not support Trump in his 2020 re-election bid and was critical of some of DeSantis' COVID pandemic-era policies.

Persons: Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Donald Trump, Suarez, Reagan, Trump, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Suarez demurred, Katharine Jackson, Alexandra Ulmer, James Oliphant, Doina Chiacu, Alistair Bell Organizations: Miami Mayor, Republican, Reuters, Florida, Trump, Thomson Locations: Suarez, Florida, hypotheticals, Miami

☆ Miami Mayor Suarez launches long-shot bid for 2024 Republican nomination
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

He is the only Hispanic candidate in the Republican field and the third candidate from Florida along with front-runner Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. But Miami has seen an influx of more traditional tech companies and wealthy investors during his tenure, many fleeing more rigid regulatory environs. Suarez has had thorny relationships with both Trump and DeSantis. He did not support Trump in his 2020 re-election bid and was critical of some of DeSantis’ COVID pandemic-era policies. Reporting by James Oliphant; Editing by Ross Colvin and Caitlin WebberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Francis X, Suarez, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Trump, ” Suarez, James Oliphant, Ross Colvin, Caitlin Webber Organizations: Republican, Reuters, Florida, Miami, Dade, Trump, Fox News, Thomson Locations: Miami, Cuban, Florida, Dade County

☆ ‘Different Than What You Expect From a Los Angeles Golf Course’
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Alan Blinder | Meg Oliphant | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For much of Collin Morikawa’s life, the Los Angeles Country Club was a mystery. “It’s demanding — it’s very different than what you expect from a Los Angeles golf course,” Morikawa said in an interview. The West Coast is known for Kikuyu grass and very sticky poa annua greens, bumpy greens in the afternoon. That’s not what Los Angeles Country Club is.”Instead, players will confront a course of Bermuda grass, with bentgrass on greens that Morikawa sees as PGA Tour-like because of their slopes and designs. This year’s Open will include five par-3 holes for the first time since 1947, when Lew Worsham beat Sam Snead in an 18-hole playoff at St. Louis Country Club.

Persons: Collin Morikawa’s, George C, Thomas Jr, Gil Hanse, Scottie Scheffler, “ It’s, ” Morikawa, Lew Worsham, Sam Snead Organizations: Los Angeles Country Club, United States, University of California, St, Louis Country Club Locations: Southern California, U.S, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Bermuda

[1/2] Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at a campaign event in Rochester, New Hampshire, U.S., June 1, 2023. Trump fired back in a sudden escalation of the war of words between the two men that not only heightened tensions in the Republican race but also provided insight into DeSantis’ initial strategy. "I've witnessed Republican after Republican get elected to whatever office and then they all kind of backed down and compromised,” Lambert said. But it was a top talking point in Iowa and South Carolina, where evangelical Christians hold more sway. Bill Hixon, a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives who introduced DeSantis in Gilbert, said he was ready to move on.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Brian Snyder GILBERT, Donald Trump, Trump, DeSantis, ”, Doug Kochel, “, he’s, ” DeSantis, “ There’s, ” Trump, Doug Lambert, I've, ” Lambert, Maureen Plyler, “ He’s, Casey DeSantis, Bill Hixon, Hixon, I’ve, James Oliphant, Nathan Layne, Ross Colvin, Alistair Bell Organizations: Republican, Florida, REUTERS, —, Touring, Reuters, New, TRUMP, Republican Party, South Carolina House, Thomson Locations: Rochester , New Hampshire, U.S, Brian Snyder GILBERT , South Carolina, Florida, Touring Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Iowa, ”, Gilbert , South Carolina, Belknap, Gilbert

☆ Casey DeSantis emerges as pivotal figure on 2024 US campaign trail
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/4] Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis listens while his wife Casey speaks at a campaign event in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., June 1, 2023. Casey DeSantis is emerging as a pivotal figure in her husband's nascent campaign, and her prominence on the trail could mark a sharp contrast with Republican front-runner Donald Trump. Reuters/Ipsos polling conducted on May 9-15 showed Trump is backed by 49% of Republicans, with Ron DeSantis in a distant second place at 19%. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey applaud as U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally, at Orlando Sanford International Airport in Sanford, Florida, October 12, 2020. Afterward, Casey DeSantis stayed in the main hall longer than her husband, greeting voters and posing for pictures.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Casey, Brian Snyder, Casey DeSantis, DeSantis, Lisa Teeman, Donald Trump, Ron Desantis, Scott Morgan, Melania Trump, Ivanka, Joe Biden, Jeanette Hoffman, Hoffman, I'm, Trump, “, Jonathan Ernst, cower, Suzanne Nelson, Doug Lambert, Lambert, Nathan Layne, James Oliphant, Colleen Jenkins, Christopher Cushing, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Republican, Florida, REUTERS, Republican Florida, Republican U.S, Democratic, Reuters, CENTRAL, mamas, Orlando Sanford International, Republican Party, Thomson Locations: Manchester , New Hampshire, U.S, Brian Snyder LACONIA, New Hampshire, Iowa, Laconia, West Des Moines , Iowa, Florida, DeSantis, Des Moines , Iowa, Sanford , Florida, New, Belknap

☆ Casey DeSantis emerges as pivotal figure on 2024 campaign trail
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Casey DeSantis, wife of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, listens to him speak at his 2022 U.S. midterm elections night party in Tampa, Florida, November 8, 2022. "She is a very strong woman," said Teeman, a 62-year-old retired IT professional who had come to hear Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' presidential pitch. Reuters/Ipsos polling conducted on May 9-15 showed Trump is backed by 49% of Republicans, with Ron DeSantis in a distant second place at 19%. Casey DeSantis has been credited by DeSantis and others around him as his closest adviser and a partner in his political activities. At the Laconia event on Thursday, Casey DeSantis stayed in the main hall longer then her husband, greeting voters and posing for pictures.

Persons: Casey DeSantis, Ron DeSantis, Marco Bello, Lisa Teeman, Donald Trump, cower, Suzanne Nelson, Trump, DeSantis, Melania, Ivanka, Joe Biden, Jeanette Hoffman, Casey, Hoffman, I'm, Doug Lambert, Lambert, Nathan Layne, Jim Oliphant, Colleen Jenkins, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Florida, Republican, Reuters, Democratic, Republican Party, Thomson Locations: Florida, Tampa , Florida, Marco Bello LACONIA, New Hampshire, Iowa , New Hampshire, South Carolina, Laconia, Belknap , New, Bluffs , Iowa

☆ Republican DeSantis strives for personal touch on 2024 kick-off tour
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Earlier, DeSantis and his wife, Casey DeSantis, hosted an event at a welding company in Sioux City, in Iowa's extreme west. Now they were downriver in Council Bluffs, a city of about 60,000, and had two more events ahead before flying to New Hampshire and South Carolina for the remainder of a three-state, 12-city tour. Iowa voters are well known for demanding to see candidates up close. That means he will need to stump in places like Council Bluffs again and again before February. In her remarks, she showed herself as a fierce advocate for DeSantis’ Florida record while reminding listeners that the two are parents of three young children.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Donald Trump, Casey DeSantis, Matt Windschitl, ” Windschitl, ” He’s, ” DeSantis, slacks, “, ”, Casey, John, ’, Doug Krasne, James Oliphant, Leslie Adler Organizations: Florida, Wednesday, Republican, Trump, Bluffs, Christian, Yale University, Harvard Law School, U.S . Navy, John Deere, DeSantis ’, Thomson Locations: , Iowa, Iowa, Sioux City, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Des Moines, Florida, Israel’s, Galilee, DeSantis ’ Florida

☆ DeSantis bashes Trump as 2024 campaign swing begins
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Trump, the front-runner in the Republican race, recently assailed DeSantis' handling of the COVID pandemic, when DeSantis resisted federal mask and vaccine mandates. "Ron DeSantis is not a serious person who can take on Joe Biden and bring about the Great American Comeback," Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in response to DeSantis' remarks. It was little surprise, then, that DeSantis held his initial Iowa event in the auditorium of an evangelical church. DeSantis was introduced by Iowa's Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, and was joined by his wife, Casey DeSantis. The nascent DeSantis campaign has been buttressed by a well-funded Super PAC, Never Back Down, which has taken on many of the day-to-day responsibilities of a presidential effort.

Persons: Ron Desantis, Scott Morgan CLIVE, Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump, DeSantis, bashed Trump, he's, Trump, denigrated DeSantis, Joe Biden, Steven Cheung, politicking, Ted Cruz, Kim Reynolds, Casey DeSantis, Reynolds, Todd Jacklin, James Oliphant, Leslie Adler, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Florida, Republican U.S, REUTERS, Republican, Twitter, Trump, PAC, Liberty, DeSantis, Thomson Locations: West Des Moines , Iowa, U.S, Scott Morgan CLIVE , Iowa, Florida, Iowa, Des Moines, New Hampshire, South Carolina, The Iowa, Johnston , Iowa

☆ In first presidential campaign swing, DeSantis says U.S. on wrong track
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Iowa is a key state for DeSantis. It was little surprise, then, that DeSantis held his initial Iowa event in an evangelical church auditorium outside of Des Moines. DeSantis was introduced by Iowa's Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, and was joined by his wife, Casey DeSantis. Todd Jacklin of Johnston, Iowa, 62, was volunteering for the event, but that did not mean he was sold on DeSantis. The nascent DeSantis campaign has been buttressed by a well-funded Super PAC, Never Back Down, which has taken on many of the day-to-day responsibilities of a presidential effort.

Persons: CLIVE, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, politicking, Donald Trump, Trump, Ted Cruz, Kim Reynolds, Casey DeSantis, Reynolds, Todd Jacklin, James Oliphant, Leslie Adler Organizations: Tuesday, Twitter, Republican, Trump, PAC, Liberty, DeSantis, Thomson Locations: Iowa, Florida, New Hampshire, South Carolina, The Iowa, Des Moines, Johnston , Iowa

☆ DeSantis to mount first campaign swing through key 2024 states
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Former President Donald Trump, the front-runner in the Republican race, will be right behind him. Trump will hold events in Iowa the day DeSantis stumps in New Hampshire, a sign the battle for the nomination is about to enter a more intense phase. Iowa is a key state for DeSantis. “This is a different guy than 2015, 2016,” DeSantis said on Friday in an interview with The Daily Wire, a conservative news website. DeSantis' campaign said it raised $8.2 million in the first 24 hours after his launch, signaling that he will have deep financial backing from party donors seeking to ensure Trump does not gain the nomination.

☆ Opinion | The Flaws of Perfection
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Warren Zanes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Mr. Springsteen’s prior release, “The River,” was his first No. “Nebraska” was dirty, kind of mumbled in sections, its hushed tones punctuated by a few screams; it told scary stories. Warren Zanes is the author of “Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Nebraska’” and “Petty: The Biography.” A former member of the Del Fuegos, he teaches at N.Y.U. and continues to write and record music, sometimes with the poet Paul Muldoon’s Rogue Oliphant band, sometimes on his own. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.

☆ Florida Governor DeSantis to enter US presidential race next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, May 17 (Reuters) - Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis will officially enter the 2024 U.S. presidential race next week, according to two sources familiar with the decision, immediately becoming Donald Trump's biggest rival for the Republican nomination and shaking up a contest that largely has been one-sided. DeSantis will likely file paperwork declaring his candidacy on May 25 to coincide with a donor meeting in Miami, with a more formal launch the week of May 29, according to a source. Those attacks have taken a toll on DeSantis’ standing in national polls. But DeSantis and his advisers hoped to use the legislature’s session as a springboard to a campaign announcement and have stayed true to their timetable. DeSantis, 44, was re-elected as governor just last year, trouncing his Democratic opponent by nearly 20 percentage points.

☆ Ahead of 2024 bid, DeSantis challenges Trump on abortion limits
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said on Tuesday he was proud to have signed a six-week abortion ban, after seeming initially reluctant to embrace the recently passed law in Florida that outlaws almost all abortions in the state. At a news conference on Tuesday, DeSantis said he was “proud” to have signed the legislation and fired back at Trump, who suggested in an interview this week that the six-week ban is overly restrictive. “He will not answer whether he would sign it or not,” said DeSantis, who is a leading contender for the Republican nomination. While DeSantis’ abortion stance could help garner him votes among hard-right conservatives, some Republican donors have expressed unease with his position. In an interview with Reuters last week, Republican donor Andy Sabin said he could not support DeSantis after he signed the abortion law.

WASHINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden continues to hold an edge over potential Republican challengers Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis as the 2024 U.S. presidential election draws closer, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll. But there are potential hazards ahead for Biden should the situation at the U.S. southern border worsen, the poll shows. In a mid-March Reuters/Ipsos poll, Biden led Trump by five points after trailing him by three points in February. Sixty-three percent of registered voters - including 73% of independents - said they were less likely to support a presidential candidate who backs severe restrictions on abortion. In the poll, 64% of Democrats and 93% of Republicans said they favor a presidential candidate who supports tougher measures to secure the border.

But as Republican presidential hopefuls including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump crisscross the country, they have instead focused on hot-button issues like immigration and transgender participation in youth sports. A broad majority of voters in both parties believe the debt ceiling presents a good opportunity to debate public policy priorities, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in March. Still, it is unclear how much Republican primary voters know about the debt limit debate - or even care - campaign aides and strategists said. Of nine attendees interviewed by Reuters at the town hall meeting held by Haley, none mentioned the debt ceiling as one of their top concerns. Others have addressed the debt ceiling in the past, but only in general terms.

☆ Analysis: As DeSantis readies 2024 presidential bid, Florida lawmakers hand him fresh ammo
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

WASHINGTON, May 3 (Reuters) - Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had counted on a productive state legislative session this spring to turbocharge his coming 2024 presidential bid. With the first presidential nominating contest still nine months away, political analysts say DeSantis has plenty of time to turn his fortunes around. Lawmakers on Tuesday passed an immigration measure that would provide more money for DeSantis’ program for relocating undocumented migrants. POTENTIAL PERILSThe six-week abortion ban remains the thorniest outcome of the session for DeSantis’ national aspirations. The governor did not expressly advocate for the bill, and he signed it without fanfare to replace the current 15-week ban.

[1/2] Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at the 2023 NHGOP Amos Tuck Dinner in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., April 14, 2023. REUTERS/Brian SnyderApril 26 (Reuters) - In his face-off with Walt Disney Co (DIS.N), Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has frequently adopted the pose of a swaggering gunfighter out of the Wild West. “There’s a new sheriff in town,” DeSantis boasts to conservative audiences nationwide as he prepares to launch his 2024 presidential bid. But as his clash with Disney escalates, so does the political risk for DeSantis and his nascent campaign. Billionaire Ken Griffin of Citadel Securities last year remarked that DeSantis’ actions amounted to “retaliation against corporate America.”“The war with Disney made some sense for a time in the context of Governor DeSantis’ presidential aspirations.

In Japan, DeSantis is expected to meet with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, said two other people, who requested anonymity to discuss private matters. Back home in Florida, there are signs he is beginning to build out a foreign policy apparatus. His political operation is in the process of bringing on Dustin Carmack, a cybersecurity and intelligence expert with significant foreign policy experience, said one of the people. DeSantis traveled to Washington earlier this week to meet with Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives. DeSantis is set to address an event hosted by the Heritage Foundation, a major think tank, on Friday.

Trump won 76% of the white evangelical vote in 2020, down from 80% in 2016, according to Edison Research exit polls. In a March poll, Trump edged DeSantis among evangelicals in a two-way matchup 51% to 42%, a nine-point improvement for Trump from the month before. The gathering is traditionally an important stop for Republican presidential candidates, although this year DeSantis, who was invited, will not be going. Vander Plaats said evangelicals will consider whether Trump can prevail next year after losing the 2020 election to President Joe Biden. “I don’t think President Trump is a principled man -- I think he was a great president,” Ascol said.

☆ Trump racks up Florida endorsements in blow to DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speak at midterm election rallies, in Dayton, Ohio, U.S. November 7, 2022 and Tampa, Florida, U.S., November 8, 2022 in a combination of file photos. REUTERS/Gaelen Morse, Marco BelloApril 19 (Reuters) - Donald Trump continued to rack up endorsements in Florida for his presidential campaign on Wednesday, outmaneuvering the state's Governor Ron DeSantis on his home turf. "If we want to get our economy back on track, Donald Trump is just the guy to get it done," Buchanan said. "They have the DeSantis campaign in a vulnerable position." Only one, Laurel Lee, stuck with DeSantis, announcing her endorsement on Tuesday.

DeSantis' muddled messaging on Ukraine and the multiple legal investigations into Trump mean that this year’s primary race “is a vast sea of uncertainty,” said Whit Ayres, a Republican strategist and former DeSantis pollster. Metals magnate and donor Andy Sabin backed Trump in 2016 and 2020 but is now planning to spend money in the Republican primary on “anybody but Trump." Enthusiastic crowds of Trump supporters were mostly quiet when he mocked DeSantis at two recent rallies. For now, despite the volatility, Trump and DeSantis remain the two leading contenders, said David Tamasi, a Republican donor and lobbyist. "You have two candidates getting 75-80% of the vote," said Tamasi, who previously backed Trump but is not this time.

Search resuls for: "Oliphant"

25 mentions found