In May, Ron DeSantis announced his decision to challenge former President Donald Trump for the GOP presidential nomination. At the time, many lauded DeSantis as a shoo-in for the candidacy, but as the months passed, staunch Republicans appear to have lost confidence in the controversial Floridian governor.
A newly published report from Politico states that college boards, stacked with DeSantis appointees, are now rejecting job candidates with connections to DeSantis.
Notice the trends here.
— Mr. Sarcasm (@Brevity121) September 16, 2023
Trump going UP.
DeSantis going DOWN.
By the looks of it, next week DeSantis will be in the also-rans with the other <10%er's. pic.twitter.com/Wc4QGBolYT
DeSantis has faced wide criticism for signing off on several severe bills, including banning the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity and limiting what Florida schools can teach about racism and U.S. history. He has exercised control over the pronouns and bathrooms students use.
DeSantis signed several bills to aggressively tackle undocumented immigration, banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors and a significant legal battle with Disney, one of Florida’s biggest employers, over LGBTQ rights.
Politico’s report also states that DeSantis’s “struggles as a presidential candidate have already eroded his influence in Florida,” and that many expect him to drop out of the race.
“You don’t get the assumption they are measuring drapes anymore — they are waiting for him to drop out,” one long-time Republican consultant in Tallahassee said of those working for DeSantis.
A CNN/University of New Hampshire poll released this week found that DeSantis had lost more than half of his support since the last U.N.H. poll two months ago in New Hampshire. DeSantis currently stands at 10% in the poll — Trump is in the lead with 39%. Political newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy is ahead of DeSantis at 13%, Nikki Haley at 12% and Chris Christie at 11%.
On Monday, Trump posted on Truth Social that there was a “roomer” DeSantis would drop out of the presidential race.
“Roomer are strong in political circles that Ron DeSanctimonious, whose Presidential run is a shambles, and whose poll numbers have absolutely crashed, putting him 3rd and 4th in some states, will be dropping out of the Presidential race in order to run, in Florida, against Rick Scott for Senate,” he wrote.
Roomer are strong in political circles that Trump is illiterate. pic.twitter.com/u9anVqEGKi
— 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤𝔾𝕦𝕪 🌐 𝕏 (@ShitzN_Giggles) August 28, 2023
DeSantis’ team was quick to respond.
“Clearly, Donald Trump and his army of consultants are panicked about Ron DeSantis’ winning debate performance and the strong momentum that has followed,” Bryan Griffin, a press secretary for DeSantis’ campaign, said in a statement.
