'Throwing money at Radio Shack': Infighting is last straw for frustrated DeSantis donors
Infighting amongst staffers running DeSantis' super PAC Never Back Down is a last straw that's seeing well-heeled donors asking if they're tossing good money at a moribund machine.
Never Back Down's top consultant, Jeff Roe, reportedly locked horns last week with DeSantis pal and Never Back Down board member Scott Wagner during a budgeting discussion amongst the nine board members where the central theme was how to one-up GOP presidential rival Nikki Haley, according to a report by NBC News.
“You have a stick up your a--, Scott,” Roe allegedly told Wagner.
“Why don’t you come over here and get it,” Wagner countered, standing up from his chair before two board members had to hold him back, according to an anonymous source who spoke to the outlet.
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The turmoil caused three allies — David Dewhirst, Jeff Aaron and Scott Ross — to part with the group and form their own super PAC, Fight Right Inc., NBC News confirmed.
It's already raised more than $700,000 as of early Monday.
Never Back Down's website is an ego-stroking platform for the Florida governor who is aiming to take on former President Donald Trump for the coveted GOP nomination to defeat the incumbent Democrat president.
"Ron DeSantis has NEVER lost an election and is the Republican Party’s best chance to beat Joe Biden and radical Democrats in the 2024 Presidential election," according to the site.
It also has a signed baseball card of DeSantis in a batter's box back in college, where the super PAC describes him as a kid who went from the Little League World Series to "becoming a baseball legend at Yale".
The governor is starting to be challenged by The former United Nations Ambassador Haley and that has reportedly frustrated DeSantis' wife Casey, according to NBC News.
The juvenile antics has rattled donors, NBC wrote.
"I'm a bit agitated these guys have spent all this money for no return," a DeSantis contributor told NBC News in recounting how reluctant they've become when Never Back Down comes calling for more money. "You don't just keep throwing money at Radio Shack."
The DeSantis campaign is playing down the in-house chaos and playing up the growing support for the governor's run to become Commander In Chief.
"We are excited to see even more backers stepping up to support Ron DeSantis’ candidacy," DeSantis campaign Communications Director Andrew Romeo told NBC News.
"We’ve already seen tremendous value in the support of groups like Never Back Down, and adding new allies to the mix to independently help spread the governor’s message will only strengthen our advantage in the important weeks and months ahead.”