Dem
51
GOP
49
Ever notice how when a candidate's campaign and/or PACs are in meltdown mode, the end is generally nigh? Then look closely at Ron DeSantis' campaign and super PAC. It's total chaos over there. That is not a sign of a happy, healthy campaign. Nine days ago, the super PAC, Never Back Down, fired its CEO, Chris Jankowski, and hired Kristin Davison as the replacement. Now it has fired Davison and replaced her with Scott Wagner for unspecified "management and personnel issues." Oh, and former Nevada AG Adam Laxalt is also out as board chairman. And spokesperson Erin Perrine was also terminated, as was director of operations Matt Palmisano and others. Happy campaigns don't usually pull this kind of stuff 5 weeks before the first nominating contest.
Insiders are saying that DeSantis is unhappy with what the super PAC is up to. Technically and legally, it is none of his damn business. By law, candidates and super PACs are not allowed to coordinate. If DeSantis is telling the super PAC what to do and ordering personnel changes, he is committing an election law felony. But what's a felony here and there when there is a caucus to be won? Supposedly, the super PAC is focusing on running ads, and they are not having any effect. What DeSantis apparently wants is for the focus to be on a Get Out The Vote (GOTV) drive.
The infighting is so bad that some DeSantis allies have formed a new super PAC, Fight Right, since the candidate has so little faith in the original one. What will happen to the old one is anyone's guess. Rumor has it that the old management moved most (or all) the money to the new one before the poop hit the ventilator. Suffice it to say, this is not how healthy, optimistic campaigns and super PACs operate. It looks like we are in Hail Mary territory here. (V)