DeSantis Troubles Grow with Latest Controversy Among Backers

Controversy continues to grow among backers of Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis as he fails to close the gap against former President Donald Trump in GOP primary polls.

The latest skirmish involves leaders of the pro-DeSantis Never Back Down super PAC that met earlier in November.

Trouble in Paradise as Infighting Erupts Among Ron DeSantis Backers: ‘You Have a Stick up Your A**’ 🤣🤣 https://t.co/ISSskm4Lif

— Patricia Dickson (@Patrici15767099) November 22, 2023

"In this meeting, Never Back Down leaders reportedly discussed Haley’s rise, but it resulted in what NBC News described as a 'heated argument with longtime DeSantis confidant Scott Wagner while a small group of nine board members and senior staff were discussing budgeting,'" Breitbart News reported.

“You have a stick up your ass, Scott,” Never Back Down chief Jeff Roe reportedly said to PAC board member Wagner, according to the report.

POLL: PRESIDENT TRUMP HOLDS HUGE LEAD OVER GOP FIELD

Trump - 62%
DeSantis - 14%
Haley - 11%
Ramaswamy - 7%
Christie - 3% pic.twitter.com/mjy6Iv2DG7

— Anthony Hughes (@CallMeAntwan) November 16, 2023

"While the 2024 presidential election still looks most likely to be a nail-biter, the two primary contests are currently blowouts," Fox News reported last week.

"Former President Donald Trump leads the GOP nomination race with the backing of a record 62% of Republican primary voters in a new Fox News survey. That translates to a roughly 50-point gap between Trump and Ron DeSantis (14%), and Nikki Haley (11%). Vivek Ramaswamy (7%), Chris Christie (3%), and Asa Hutchinson (1%) trail even further," it added.

DeSantis was promoted earlier in the year as the top Trump alternative after leading his state to a red wave in 2022 and standing against the Biden administration during the pandemic.

His launch led to quick attacks from Trump, fellow GOP opponents, and Democrats who saw him as a threat.

The DeSantis team has so far failed to successfully counter the opposition, falling in polls rather than climbing.

Nikki Haley has now passed DeSantis in some polls, dropping DeSantis to third in what is shaping up to be a disappointing result for the popular Florida governor.