Associated Press
The failed campaign and expansive political operation aiming to make Gov. Ron DeSantis the Republican nominee for the White House cost $168 million, according to filings reported to the Federal Election Commission.
The pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down reported payments of more than $130.6 million in 2023 while a newer super PAC Fight Right reported $9.6 million between mid November and December. His own campaign spent $28.3 million from May to December.
DeSantis relied on support from outside groups more than any other major candidate since a U.S. Supreme Court 2010 ruling paved the way for super PACs. These political action committees can raise unlimited amounts of money without having to disclose their donors, but federal law prohibits candidates and their formal campaigns from coordinating directly with super PACs.
DeSantis ended his campaign last month after losing to former President Donald Trump in the Iowa caucuses by 30 points. He had launched his campaign with high expectations as a high-profile Governor who had amassed with his allies more than $130 million and had a record for taking on conservative issues such as abortion and the teaching of race and gender topics in schools.
But he struggled in the primary starting with a glitchy campaign launch on Twitter Spaces and financial pressures and staffing shake-ups. DeSantis also faced concerns of blurring the lines of what is allowed by campaign laws. A nonpartisan government watchdog group alleged in a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission that there was coordination and communication between the campaign and the super PAC backing him. Never Back Down orchestrated much of the on-the ground-work for DeSantis. It received more than $80 million from a committee backing his successful 2022 gubernatorial re-election. Meanwhile, Fight Right was created by DeSantis’ Florida allies for TV advertising. It paid for ads to attack former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is still running against Trump.
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Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
14 comments
Josh Green
February 1, 2024 at 2:14 pm
Everything DeSantis touches has been a failure.
Earl Pitts "Sage Political Expert Emeritas" Ameriecan
February 1, 2024 at 7:01 pm
Warning Sage Patriots.
This is a total Dook 4 Brains AP artical reprint full of “Un-Sage Leftist Dirty Lies”
Dont waste your Sage Time here ….. move along now citizens ….. nothing to see here.
Earl Pitts American
Christians
February 2, 2024 at 11:06 am
Former Florida GOP chair Christian Ziegler and his wife, Bridget—known for promoting “family values” and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric—first had a sexual encounter with his rape accuser in 2021 as they “hunted” for a threesome partner, new police records reveal.
While Sarasota cops recently dropped sexual battery charges against Ziegler, who was accused of raping a longtime friend in October, they referred a video voyeurism case to the State Attorney’s Office in connection to footage he recorded of his victim.
rick whitaker
February 8, 2024 at 8:48 pm
WARNING ⚠ TROLL COMMENT BY EARL FOOL SHITTS
Joe
February 1, 2024 at 2:46 pm
Grift accomplished!
Michael K
February 1, 2024 at 2:58 pm
Florida, where the failed ambitions of the DeSanti went to die – at taxpayer’s great expense and shame.
Dont Say FLA
February 1, 2024 at 3:27 pm
That’s how much it cost at the very least. The GriftingOP made special Rhonda Law to cover up expenditures from the Florida state treasury. Rhonda’s shade won’t last forever. Soon as he turns on the legislature for whatever piddly reason, they’ll lift the curtains and let the sunshine in. Flop Gov Rhonda is thusly impotent as Florida’s Governor and should resign immediately.
Doug K
February 1, 2024 at 6:43 pm
In the immortal words of Clark Griswold’s mother-in-law from Christmas Vacation…
“Talk about pissing your money away. I hope you kids see what a silly waste of resources this was.“
Taylor Swift 2028
February 2, 2024 at 3:38 am
So awesome to see you Whiteys toss that kinda change in the toilet but complain about gas prices.
So Christian; complaining and grievance.
Tom
February 2, 2024 at 7:15 am
To quote Hemingway:
“How did you go bankrupt?” Bill asked.
“Two ways,” Mike said. “Gradually, then suddenly.”
Ronna McDaniel, Leader of QOP
February 2, 2024 at 11:05 am
Former Florida GOP chair Christian Ziegler and his wife, Bridget—known for promoting “family values” and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric—first had a sexual encounter with his rape accuser in 2021 as they “hunted” for a threesome partner, new police records reveal.
While Sarasota cops recently dropped sexual battery charges against Ziegler, who was accused of raping a longtime friend in October, they referred a video voyeurism case to the State Attorney’s Office in connection to footage he recorded of his victim.
Jojo
February 4, 2024 at 11:05 am
You’d think someone would have had the forethought not to name a presidential campaign PAC Never Back Down
S. Wabbit
February 4, 2024 at 3:28 pm
They down.
Dont Say FLA
February 5, 2024 at 12:37 pm
One must think to have thought, fore or not.
Comments are closed.