Winning: DeSantis lets go of more than 1/3 of campaign staff
(www.politico.com)
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This is really the tragic part. I've been calling from the beginning that this was the GOPe attempting to kill one or both potential candidates. If he had won the nomination, his own donors would have pulled out, and the RNC would have cut his throat, repeating what happened in 2022: claiming that Trumpism was dead because DeSantis was the "electable Trump". "Only real Conservatives like Jeb Bush should run in the future!"
Since it doesn't look like he'll win, his shills are trying to burn every bridge, and his donors are trying to use this moment of weakness to push him out of Florida.
All that being said, I don't think his political damage is permanent. Look at Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio. Both were absolutely lambasted by Trump. Yet, "Lyin Ted" (the BTK killer) turned into "Lion Ted". Sure, being president is a bit out of their leagues, but their careers aren't over. I don't think DeSantis is going to be kicked out of the Governor's race anytime soon, and I don't think the Trump wing is actually going to want to ostracize him if they can bring him back into the fold.
Not saying you're wrong, and I don't know all the backstory behind this shakeup, but can someone explain to me why everyone here is saying "this is it for DeSantis"? I'm probably ignorant of a political reality here, but the article only says he's cutting staff so he can keep campaigning. Why would you bother with austerity if you don't plan to stay in for the long haul? They make it sound like he can reposition his strategy as an underdog and keep going. Some of the staffers are still helping him but not on payroll.
Eh, he waffles.
Collapsing poll numbers, donors complaining, Ramaswamy is actually catching up to him, bone-headed media stunts, crazy shills, it all kinda screams "circling the drain".
His ugliest problem is that he's got tons of money, but is actually lacking in grass-roots support. So if those donors are pulling their investments and he can't pay staff, it says his chance at success is hurting badly.
Sure but, his career's not over. That's what I'm getting at.
Personally, I don't think "this is it for DeSantis." He'll continue to limp along and his fanboys will continue to be annoying.
I just think he has no shot at winning the primary.