Many suspect that Donald Trump is the clear favorite to win the GOP nomination. That’s what makes this news so important.
And the Trump campaign has made an announcement that changes everything for 2024.
In the race for the Republican nomination in 2024, former president Donald Trump’s campaign raised more than $30 million more than that of Florida governor Ron DeSantis’ camp in the third fiscal quarter.
The Trump campaign stated on Wednesday that they have raised $45.5 million in the last three months, with $37.5 million in cash on hand. While just $5 million was available for immediate use, DeSantis raised $15 million within the same time frame.
DeSantis’ campaign disclosed its funding totals as a third of its personnel moved from Florida to Iowa three months before the GOP presidential caucus in Iowa. DeSantis is competing head-to-head with Trump for the nomination, and he expects to win Iowa. On January 15, 2024, the Republican caucuses in Iowa will kick off the 2024 primaries.
The Trump team stated in a statement, “While DeSanctus’ fundraising, like his poll numbers, has seen an exponential drop even from July, President Trump outraised his impressive $35 million haul in Q2 (which doubled Q1 fundraising) by more than $10 million.”
According to the announcement, Trump has set aside over $36 million of his total cash-on-hand for the Republican primary.
The third quarter results are especially noteworthy given that most campaigns see a decline in donations throughout the summer. As the president’s campaign put it, “President Trump and his campaign have completely shattered that notion.”
Florida’s governor is still having trouble gaining ground in the campaign while Trump deals with four criminal indictments and a civil fraud prosecution in New York. In recent national and state polls, DeSantis has lagged behind Trump by 30-40 percentage points. In a New Hampshire survey issued Wednesday, DeSantis trailed Trump by 39 points and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley was behind by 30 points.
Last month, it was discovered less than half of the top 50 donors for DeSantis’ 2022 gubernatorial reelection had donated to either his presidential campaign or super PAC as of the end of June.
“I think he’s done a tremendous job as governor of Florida, and I’ve been, as I think you know, a huge supporter of him in that role,” former Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner said of DeSantis. “I believe Nikki Haley has the best shot of winning the general election… To my knowledge, everyone is attempting to figure things out. We have to win, and we have to win the general.”
Despite a few setbacks, the DeSantis camp continues to have hope. According to DeSantis’ campaign manager, James Uthmeier, “Anyone that knows Ron DeSantis knows that he is a fighter, a winner, and a leader,” in reference to the candidate’s quarterly report that was released on Wednesday.
“This significant fundraising haul not only provides us with the resources we need in the fight for Iowa and beyond, but it also shuts down the doubters who counted out Ron DeSantis for far too long. Ron DeSantis is the only candidate with the vision to reverse America’s decline and the track record to prove he will get the job done,” Uthmeier explained.
“Thanks to the generous support of Americans looking for a leader who will deliver results, this campaign is built to last and win. Ron DeSantis is the only candidate in this race who can beat both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, revive our economy, secure the border, make America energy dominant, and end the weaponization of government once and for all.”
It will be interesting to see how the Ron DeSantis campaign reacts in the coming weeks and months leading up to the start of the Republican primary.
Usually, a clear second choice is set within the first few primary contests. In 2016, that clear second choice was U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) who had a formidable shot at winning that year against Trump.
However, it seems both Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis are digging their heels in to try to get the chance to be the one to take on Donald Trump at the end of it all.
You can’t count out the top brass right now, especially considering no one has cast a single vote just yet. There’s also still the legal troubles that Donald Trump is facing.
Though, it certainly looks like Donald Trump will once again get the nomination to run for President and get the chance to have a rematch against Joe Biden come November 2024.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
