Republican strategist Jeff Roe, who previously managed Senator Ted Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign, has joined the pro-Ron DeSantis super PAC, Never Back Down.[0] The move is seen as a signal that DeSantis is gearing up to run for the presidency in 2024. Roe is known for his successful campaigns, having been a key adviser for Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s victorious 2021 run.[1] Youngkin’s victory in a Democratic-leaning state was seen as a blueprint for how Republicans could win by capitalizing on culture-war issues while still keeping former President Donald Trump at a distance.[1]
DeSantis has not yet announced a run for the presidency, but he is actively preparing for a campaign and is expected to jump into the race later this year after the Florida state legislature’s annual session wraps up.[1] In recent weeks, he has traveled to early voting states like Iowa and Nevada, and he is expected to make stops in other critical states like New Hampshire, Michigan, and Pennsylvania in the coming weeks.[2]
Despite Trump remaining the frontrunner in the nascent 2024 Republican primary, early polling shows DeSantis as the most formidable challenger to the former president.[3] In an attempt to undermine DeSantis before his potential run for President, Trump and his supporters have been relentlessly criticizing him in recent weeks.[2]
Never Back Down PAC was launched earlier this month by Ken Cuccinelli, a former Trump administration official who is playing a major role in laying the groundwork for DeSantis’ widely expected White House bid.[4] Cuccinelli has taken a recent two-week tour through the four early presidential primary states, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada, as speculation has intensified in recent weeks that DeSantis will run.[5]
However, DeSantis has also started to face criticism and questions from his own party about his responses to multiple issues, including Trump’s potential indictment, Ukraine, and slipping poll numbers.[4] Despite this, Cuccinelli said he is rooting for DeSantis as he believes he has the best chance to win the election, having gained popularity in Florida and across the nation, and has “the skills to do the most in the presidency.[5]
0. “DeSantis-aligned PAC staffs up, brings on Ted Cruz’s campaign manager” POLITICO, 22 Mar. 2023, https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/22/desantis-aligned-pac-ted-cruz-campaign-manager-00088449
1. “Veterans of Ted Cruz’s 2016 campaign sign up to help DeSantis beat Trump” Yahoo News, 28 Mar. 2023, https://news.yahoo.com/veterans-of-ted-cruzs-2016-campaign-sign-up-to-help-desantis-beat-trump-143115464.html
2. “Pro-DeSantis super PAC hires another former Trump aide” The Hill, 27 Mar. 2023, https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3920478-pro-desantis-super-pac-hires-another-former-trump-aide/
3. “Yet another former aide ditches Trump to join Pro-DeSantis Super PAC” Daily Mail, 28 Mar. 2023, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11911483/Yet-former-aide-ditches-Trump-join-Pro-DeSantis-Super-PAC.html
4. “Pro-Ron DeSantis super PAC hires top GOP strategist Jeff Roe” NBC News, 23 Mar. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/-ron-desantis-super-pac-hires-top-gop-strategist-jeff-roe-rcna76262
5. “Indy Q&A: Cuccinelli, DHS leader under Trump, says he sees more 2024 potential in DeSantis – The Nevada …” The Nevada Independent, 25 Mar. 2023, https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/indy-qa-cuccinelli-dhs-leader-under-trump-says-he-sees-more-2024-potential-in-desantis
