As the 2024 presidential race heats up, Ron DeSantis, the ultra-conservative governor of Florida, is feeling the burn, but not the good kind. His White House aspirations are looking grimmer by the day, and no, it’s not just because of his policies that seem to challenge common sense at every turn. This time, it’s his campaign finances that are gasping for air.
DeSantis, the darling of the far-right, is lagging disastrously in the polls, trailing the GOP’s favorite political comeback artist, Donald Trump, by a whopping 45-46 percent, depending on who you ask. But even more troubling for the governor’s presidential dreams? His campaign is nearly broken, and not in the relatable, ramen-noodle-diet kind of way.
Here’s the deal: DeSantis’ campaign is in a financial chokehold. A staggering 75% of his funds are from donors who’ve already given the max they can for the primary. Yep, they’re tapped out, and they can’t contribute more to his primary campaign even if they wanted to. This leaves DeSantis in a sticky situation, as he’s already squeezed $23.8 million from them, and now, he’s basically got nowhere else to go but down.
Now, if you’re thinking, “What about those big-money donors, the ones who can bankroll a campaign without checking their account balance?” Well, they’ve already dug deep into their pockets, but there’s a catch. A big chunk of that money can’t be touched until the general election. That’s like having a vault full of gold in an apocalypse but no key. Not helpful when the primary race is where the immediate action is.
Sure, these cash-flush supporters can (and probably will) pour their money into “Never Back Down,” the super PAC that’s been DeSantis’ financial lifeline, splurging over $37 million on ads alone. But here’s another snag: the super PAC and DeSantis’ campaign can’t coordinate legally. It’s like fighting a war but not being able to plan with your allies. Not exactly a recipe for victory.
DeSantis’ money woes highlight a critical point about the current state of political campaigns. When you lean too heavily on a certain demographic or donor class, especially one aligned with extreme ideologies, you box yourself in. It’s not just about having funds; it’s about having a broad, sustainable base that believes in you (or at least believes you’re a better option). For young, left-leaning voters and activists, this is a cautionary tale about the importance of grassroots support and the pitfalls of relying too heavily on a narrow, albeit wealthy, support base.
The takeaway? DeSantis needs to broaden his appeal if he wants to keep his presidential hopes alive. But given his track record, that pivot would require a policy U-turn larger than Florida itself. And let’s be real: are we holding our breath for that? Not likely.
