Staff Reports
In a new report that adds fuel to the fire, it appears that the Iowa caucuses could be the final blow to Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis’ campaign. This rumor has been circulating for some time now, with The New York Times reporting back in December that the campaign was faltering and in disarray. However, the DeSantis camp vehemently denied these claims.
Rumors Swirling DeSantis Will Likely Drop Out of Race on January 15: Report https://t.co/Tr9d3aXh7y
— IJR (@TheIJR) January 8, 2024
The latest report comes from Republican consultant Douglas MacKinnon, who has worked for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. MacKinnon states that he has heard from two reliable sources within the DeSantis campaign, a major donor and a high-level political operative, that if DeSantis loses the Iowa caucuses to former President Donald Trump, as expected, he will either drop out of the race that night or make his announcement the following morning. Furthermore, both sources believe that DeSantis will begrudgingly endorse Trump for president.
This report raises the question of whether it would even make sense for DeSantis to continue his campaign if he suffers a major loss in Iowa. MacKinnon suggests that if Trump secures a significant victory, more endorsements will flock to him and more donors will abandon DeSantis. He believes that DeSantis will ultimately choose reason over ego and exit the race.
Recent polling data supports the notion that DeSantis is trailing behind Trump in Iowa. The RealClearPolitics average shows Trump in the lead at 51.3 percent, followed by DeSantis at 18.6 percent and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley at 16.1 percent. MacKinnon emphasizes that DeSantis will have to assess not only the size of his losses but also his financial situation and the disappointed backers who will be urging him to step aside.
MacKinnon points out that DeSantis initially aimed to challenge Trump’s “cult of personality” image, especially after his successful reelection in 2022. However, the dynamics of the race have changed, with Trump gaining folk hero status due to the Democratic “lawfare” against him. MacKinnon, who previously believed that the time for DeSantis was 2028, now suggests that may be too ambitious.
While these rumors should be taken with a grain of salt, it’s clear that the Iowa caucuses could be a make-or-break moment for DeSantis. Only time will tell if he will fold his hand or go all in with his dwindling stack of chips.
