By Gloria Ogbonna
Jeff Roe, renowned consultant for Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL), resigned from the faltering Never Back Down (NBD) super PAC, a key part of DeSantis’s presidential ambitions.
His departure followed a scathing Washington Post report highlighting the chaos within NBD and its failure to propel DeSantis towards a successful presidential bid.
Roe, in a statement, disassociated himself from NBD, citing the Post’s claims as untrue and disruptive to DeSantis’s crucial phase. The report unveiled a series of issues within NBD, including resignations of senior officials, conflicts, and DeSantis’s dissatisfaction with the group’s leadership and ad strategy.
Despite Roe’s exit, occurring just weeks before the Iowa caucuses, the campaign’s trajectory seems unlikely to shift. DeSantis, once viewed as Donald Trump’s natural successor, faced setbacks following negative publicity and struggled to regain momentum, despite significant financial investment.
Insiders close to DeSantis depicted Roe’s departure as part of a campaign strategy to fortify the inner circle before the Iowa and New Hampshire elections. Nevertheless, the narrative emphasized the historical significance of Roe’s role in DeSantis’s political journey, from triumphs to setbacks within the campaign.
Roe’s prominence as a Republican campaign operative and Axiom’s growth as a major consulting firm contrasted with NBD’s disappointing trajectory. Intended as a game-changing model for presidential campaigns, NBD faced criticism for its inability to deliver success and the misalignment of resources behind an apparently flawed candidate.
With DeSantis trailing Trump in Iowa and facing challenges in New Hampshire, NBD’s struggles continued amid the emergence of competing super PACs. The Iowa caucuses, scheduled for January 15, 2024, loom as a pivotal moment in this campaign narrative.
source breitbrat