Click the video player above for your WPBF 25 News To Go HeadlinesAs Republican candidates look ahead to the primaries, WPBF 25 News is hearing from local political experts about the struggles Gov. Ron DeSantis is facing in his campaign.DeSantis had a campaign stop in New Hampshire on Sunday, and before that he was in Iowa. Professor of history and politics at Nova Southeastern University, Charles Zelden, says DeSantis needs to do everything he can to have a strong showing in those states since they will be the first two to cast their ballots in the Republican primaries.”I’d say (DeSantis is) in trouble right now,” said Zelden.He says the fact that DeSantis is behind former President Donald Trump by about 30 points in many polls is a bad sign for DeSantis’ hopes of winning the Republican nomination.”He’s got some time yet but if he doesn’t show something early on in the primary process, it’s game over,” said Zelden.He says the fact that DeSantis laid off a third of his campaign staff could be a sign the governor has begun having trouble raising money.In New Hampshire on Sunday, DeSantis criticized how Trump’s campaign has invested its money, saying the former president’s PAC has mostly been raising money for Trump’s legal fees and targeting DeSantis. “Well, he also spent more than $20 million attacking me, they were he was attacking me on with these commercials, phony commercials when I was just doing my job as governor. I wasn’t even a candidate,” said DeSantis.Zelden thinks any digs at former President Trump require a delicate balance on DeSantis’ part. Related: Political expert weighs in on DeSantis campaign finance strategy”If DeSantis doesn’t engage he allows Trump to define the battlefield and that will always be to the advantage of Trump. If he does engage on the other hand, it diminishes DeSantis’ strategy of not fully engaging with Trump or of trying to be the alternate Trump,” said Zelden.DeSantis also made an appearance in Iowa over the weekend, where he told reporters he’s the only Republican candidate who can win in the general election.”In Florida, (Trump) won by three. I won by 20. We’re not getting a mulligan on 2024. Either go you get the job done, or you don’t and so I will get the job done,” said DeSantis.The Iowa caucus is set for Jan. 15. The Republican primaries run through early June.Zelden says if Trump were to be convicted on any of the charges against him, it likely would not happen until after the Republican primaries.
Click the video player above for your WPBF 25 News To Go Headlines
As Republican candidates look ahead to the primaries, WPBF 25 News is hearing from local political experts about the struggles Gov. Ron DeSantis is facing in his campaign.
DeSantis had a campaign stop in New Hampshire on Sunday, and before that he was in Iowa. Professor of history and politics at Nova Southeastern University, Charles Zelden, says DeSantis needs to do everything he can to have a strong showing in those states since they will be the first two to cast their ballots in the Republican primaries.
“I’d say (DeSantis is) in trouble right now,” said Zelden.
He says the fact that DeSantis is behind former President Donald Trump by about 30 points in many polls is a bad sign for DeSantis’ hopes of winning the Republican nomination.
“He’s got some time yet but if he doesn’t show something early on in the primary process, it’s game over,” said Zelden.
He says the fact that DeSantis laid off a third of his campaign staff could be a sign the governor has begun having trouble raising money.
In New Hampshire on Sunday, DeSantis criticized how Trump’s campaign has invested its money, saying the former president’s PAC has mostly been raising money for Trump’s legal fees and targeting DeSantis.
“Well, he also spent more than $20 million attacking me, they were he was attacking me on with these commercials, phony commercials when I was just doing my job as governor. I wasn’t even a candidate,” said DeSantis.
Zelden thinks any digs at former President Trump require a delicate balance on DeSantis’ part.
Related: Political expert weighs in on DeSantis campaign finance strategy
“If DeSantis doesn’t engage he allows Trump to define the battlefield and that will always be to the advantage of Trump. If he does engage on the other hand, it diminishes DeSantis’ strategy of not fully engaging with Trump or of trying to be the alternate Trump,” said Zelden.
DeSantis also made an appearance in Iowa over the weekend, where he told reporters he’s the only Republican candidate who can win in the general election.
“In Florida, (Trump) won by three. I won by 20. We’re not getting a mulligan on 2024. Either go you get the job done, or you don’t and so I will get the job done,” said DeSantis.
The Iowa caucus is set for Jan. 15. The Republican primaries run through early June.
Zelden says if Trump were to be convicted on any of the charges against him, it likely would not happen until after the Republican primaries.
