The presidential campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is laying off staff and trying to stem dropping poll numbers as it burns through cash, while at the same time spending more than most of his rivals on an expensive private plane and other travel costs.
The DeSantis campaign spent $1.5 million on travel over six weeks — about 20 percent of its total spending in the second quarter, and a higher amount than any other campaign except those of Donald Trump and Vivek Ramaswamy during the quarter, according to a Washington Post analysis of campaign finance disclosures. Other Republican candidates such as Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and former U.N.
“I am running a fully transparent campaign,” DeSantis said in a fundraising email Wednesday, “meaning you’re involved at every step, I keep you informed on where your every dollar goes, and I treat you like the member of my team that you are, NOT my personal piggy bank.”“Ron DeSantis has never been the favorite or the darling of the establishment, and he has won because of it every time,” communications director Andrew Romeo said in a statement Friday.
Candidates often charter private planes to keep up with the demanding pace of campaign travel, but it comes at a cost — both in dollars and in image, opening them up to attacks of being insular or elitist. “I really am smart with how we spend,”“We’re on a lot of JetBlue and Spirit airline flights.
Trump’s campaign is spending more on travel than DeSantis’s in absolute terms, as is the campaign of Ramaswamy. The former biotech executive is mostly self-funding his campaign, with more than $15 million in loans. DeSantis has come under scrutiny because of his reliance on donors to provide private planes, sometimes from those with business before his administration. Former aides said that DeSantis almost never flew commercial, and that his team was responsible for finding private jets to ferry him to events inside and outside of Florida throughout his time as governor.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ret. general tells Ron DeSantis that 'woke' is 'thriving in Florida'Mark Hertling said during an appearance on CNN Wednesday that he considers himself 'woke' as both a soldier and citizen of Florida.
Read more »
Political refugees: Why a family fleeing Ron DeSantis’ Florida chose SwarthmoreWhy two top Fla. Dems fled for a Philly suburb, joining an exodus of political refugees from Gov. Ron DeSantis' increasingly authoritarian state.
Read more »
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis brings his presidential campaign to Utah, againRon DeSantis has raised the most money from Utah of any 2024 presidential hopeful, raking in more than $113,000 in donations since he officially launched his campaign in May.
Read more »
DeSantis weighs lawsuit against Bud Light parent over Florida pension fund lossesFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis is considering legal action against Bud Light’s parent company over its woke marketing campaign.
Read more »
Florida's economy, touted by DeSantis, is in strong shape but with a big headacheIt's both an inspiration and a cautionary tale.
Read more »
'They insult us': Harris hits DeSantis over Florida's new U.S. history standardsThe VP said Florida is pushing revisionist history.
Read more »