Head of Ron DeSantis Super PAC Admits Spreading Opposition Stories on Upstart Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy
In a shocking revelation, the head of Ron DeSantis’s mammoth super PAC, Jeff Roe, has privately admitted to spreading opposition stories about upstart candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Ramaswamy’s recent rise in the polls has threatened Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s hold on second place in the GOP primary race.
During a gathering of donors just before the first GOP primary debate in Milwaukee on August 23, Roe confessed to his role in targeting Ramaswamy. “Everything you read about him is from us,” Roe told the donors. “Every misstatement, every 360 he’s conducting or 180 that he is going through in life, is from our scrutiny and pressure. And so, he’s not going to go through that very well, and that will get worse for him.”
A recording of these comments, obtained by Politico, shed light on the tactics being employed by the pro-DeSantis super PAC. It was earlier reported by CNN and The New York Times that Roe was behind the opposition stories.
Interestingly, the official DeSantis campaign has struggled to raise funds from small-dollar donors, leading to the majority of campaign activities being taken over by Never Back Down, the super PAC run by Roe. However, it should be noted that super PACs are not allowed to coordinate directly with any campaign.
Roe intends to launch a $50 million fundraising campaign after Labor Day, with the goal of raising most of the funds before the second GOP debate on September 27. “Now the good news is that we have all the money we need in this room,” Roe told the donors. “The bad news is it’s still in your wallet.”
The Ramaswamy campaign responded to the report, highlighting that the bipartisan establishment, including DeSantis’s Super PAC, Chris Christie, The New York Times, and MSNBC, were all targeting Ramaswamy simultaneously. Ramaswamy’s spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, stated, “When DeSantis’s Super PAC campaign, Chris Christie, the New York Times, MSNBC, and the rest of the bipartisan establishment are all going after you at the same time, you know you’re right over the target. America watched Vivek dominate the debate stage, it’s no wonder Never Back Down is pissing away another $20+ million after Labor Day.”
Roe also revealed that the campaign was laser-focused on the early primary states, particularly Iowa. He explained that Iowa was an essential state due to its highly educated population, income levels, and religious inclinations. He also claimed that Donald Trump would struggle in New Hampshire, suggesting that they would defeat Trump in Iowa.
The admission from the head of Ron DeSantis’s super PAC has raised concerns over the use of negative campaigning and the influence of big money in politics. As the race for the GOP primary continues, it remains to be seen how this revelation will impact the voters’ perception of both DeSantis and Ramaswamy.