Anne Geggis
More numerous and smaller events — aspects promised in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign reboot — materialized in points on the map this week, with a restaurant, a distillery and a coffee shop on the agenda.
The Never Back Down super PAC announced a bus tour with special guest DeSantis starting Thursday morning when the candidate touches down in Des Moines. The tour will go 154 miles with three stops over 12 hours in the southern part of the Hawkeye State.
A meet-and-greet will get underway at noon at a bar and grill in Chariton. He’ll then head to a town hall at an Osceola distillery to the west and swing 80 miles east where the tour wraps for another meet-and-greet at an Oskaloosa coffee. On Friday, DeSantis will appear at the sold-out Iowa GOP Lincoln Dinner in Des Moines.
The tour stops come as circumstances are looking more dire for DeSantis’ prospects in the first-in-the-nation caucus state. A Fox Business survey released on Sunday reveals DeSantis just 5 points ahead of U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, with DeSantis polling at 16% support. Scott had been in the single digits.
Trump is polling at an average of 31 percentage points above DeSantis in Iowa, after one April poll showed the Florida Governor coming within 7 percentage points of Trump’s support, 37%-30%, according to Real Clear Politics.
Although DeSantis visited Iowa before declaring his presidential intentions on May 24, it’s the third time he’s done so as a candidate since then, hitting 10 events with Iowa residents, the Des Moines Register reports. That’s busier than Trump’s schedule, but Iowa Republicans told the newspaper that DeSantis has to pick up the pace if he wants to overtake the former President.
The Lincoln Day event in Des Moines, where DeSantis’ Iowa whirl this week is scheduled to end, is sold out. Attendees could have bought a table for up to $10,000 that gets them “premier seating” and tickets for 10 to a host reception that also features the other leading Republican presidential candidates including No. 1 in the polls.
The trip represents the blurring of lines between the campaign and the candidate’s PAC which has amassed more than $130 million to spend on the campaign.
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A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics contributed to this report.
8 comments
Dont Say FLA
July 23, 2023 at 10:03 pm
If “Never Back Down” PAC truly plans never to back down, KC needs to find himslef a candidate who is at least minimally passable is some way to the general electorate. Rhonda ain’t the guy for that.
Laughing Iowans
July 23, 2023 at 10:26 pm
Iowans all flash a big smile in their pictures with Ron because they’re laughing about the box he stands on in an attempt to look like a manly man that’s taller than your average Oompa Loompa.
My Take
July 24, 2023 at 12:21 am
He’ll never catch up to Trump.
Trump has to fall.
But he well might.
Sonja Fitch
July 24, 2023 at 6:12 am
As if?!
Floridas Finest
July 24, 2023 at 8:46 am
Our latest and greatest stratigy in play involves the unavoidable situation of Trump being elected. Polling indicates thats what America will do this time. We have tasked the best stratigists at the DNC into planning out our action plan.
Soon after Trump takes up residence in the white house we will get our best assett, Barak, Michelle, and Opra, to secretly meet with Trump’s Vice President, and use their awsome star power to convince Trumps VP to agree to spearhead a super star packed online influncer led movement to have Trump impeached. While we know things look bad now just keep in mind we actually need Trump to be elected to get him impeached. Based on the current situation the DNC has planned out, we are calling on all faithfull Democrats in the general election to cross party lines and vote for Trump, as we cant impeach Trump if he is not elected. Its the only way forward. Dont loose faith Democratic faithfull. Our plan will work and as always, we are in charge.
Dont Say FLA
July 24, 2023 at 4:00 pm
If Trump gets elected, Kevin McCarthy and the House GOP will impeach, and then the Senate Democrats will approve. The GOP is going to run their real Presidential candidate as Trump’s VP. If only Mitch McConnell had approved either impeachment the Democrats already gifted the GOP with, we would not be here today. No Comprendo why Kentucky sent McConnell back to the Senate after his two epic fails to execute the impeachment of Trump. Now McCarthy has to do McConnell’s job.
PeterH
July 24, 2023 at 10:59 am
Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis are the two most dangerous people to be on the Republican platform for president.
Republicans are America’s biggest problem!
Vote all Republicans out of office!
Michael K
July 24, 2023 at 3:48 pm
So much for keeping distance between the PAC and the campaign.
Comments are closed.