Politics can change on a dime. Friends become foes when you least expect it.
And this GOP candidate was rocked by a high-profile defection.
When a politician decides to run for president, they are putting their entire reputation on the line.
Hostile media and opportunistic competitors in the race will dig up anything and everything to bring you down.
It’s not for the faint-hearted, especially when you’re going face-to-face with Trump.
And one Republican is learning that the hard way.
According to a statement released Tuesday, Steve Cortes, a top aide and spokesman for the pro-Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) Never Back Down super PAC, has left the group.
“Steve launched his own show and left his role as a spokesman for Never Back Down. He will continue to support Governor DeSantis in his personal capacity,” spokeswoman Erin Perrine announced.
During a July Twitter Space, Cortes admitted that the DeSantis team faced an “uphill battle” against former President Donald Trump’s strong advantage.
“Right now in national polling we are way behind, I’ll be the first to admit that,” said Cortes, who worked on Trump’s past campaigns.
Cortes also called Trump’s primary victory “inevitable” in a radio appearance last month.
“It is a rematch that nobody wants yet it seems at this moment to be inevitable,” Cortes said of a potential general election featuring Trump and President Joe Biden.
According to Maggie Haberman of the New York Times, Cortes’ “high praise of Trump in some public appearances had caught attention among Republicans.”
Cortes didn’t respond to a message asking about his status after his Twitter/X bio dropped the Never Back Down affiliation. But his high praise of Trump in some public appearances had caught attention among Republicans.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) October 10, 2023
Cortes’ departure from the DeSantis campaign comes as recent polls show the Florida governor trailing Trump by 49 points.
According to the Times, the campaign is also short on cash, with only $5 million of the $13.5 million in cash on hand available for use in the GOP primary.
Trump predicted DeSantis will withdraw from the race shortly, comparing him to “a wounded bird falling from the sky.”
“He has proven to be a terrible and inept candidate who even fought Social Security and MediCare,” Trump posted online.
“He will SOON be out of money and dropping out of the race for President. After having single handidly gotten him elected Governor, with no thanks or glory, it has been a beautiful thing to watch,” Trump added. “Good luck Ron!”
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
