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Trump Backer Explains Turning Away from DeSantis: ‘They Don’t Feel He Is Ready for It’
Breitbart ^ | 14 Nov 2023 | HANNAH BLEAU KNUDSEN

Posted on 11/14/2023 3:12:27 PM PST by SoConPubbie

Don Tapia, a Trump-backer who served as U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica under former President Donald Trump, is making it crystal clear that his allegiance is behind the former president rather than Gov. Ron DeSantis, explaining why other major donors are turned off by the Florida governor well over five months into his presidential bid.

In February, Politico described Tapia as one of many “defectors” who was leaving Trump for DeSantis. At the time, the outlet reported that he “gave more than $50,000 to DeSantis’ reelection bid and hosted a pair of fundraisers for him” and asserted that donors were growing “tired of Trump’s attacks on DeSantis.”

“The name-calling has turned a lot of people off,” he said at the time. “Let me tell you, we don’t like that.”

While Politico reported that Tapia “said that he had decided to back DeSantis should he run in 2024,” Tapia made it clear to the Messenger that he never formally endorsed DeSantis and is now fully behind Trump, as he was in the past, contributing six-figures in Trump’s past campaigns.

Further, he told the outlet that more “big number guys” are coming out to support Trump as the primary goes on and the former president maintains his status as the runaway frontrunner.

“When it comes DeSantis, they don’t feel DeSantis is ready for it, that he’s up to the challenge of what is taking place. And keep in mind, the world situation has changed,” he told the outlet, noting that Trump’s indictments “brought more people home” as well.

Via the Messenger:


(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 00desantissuicide; 01fakenews; 02desantis2024; 03desantiswinsiowa; 04desantistimeisnow; 1stopbadmouthingrds; amateurs; angrytrumpers; calculating; desantis; desantisisready; desantiswillwiniowa; desimps; inexperience; notready; notreadyforprimetime; opportunist; politicalsuicide; ready4desantis; rondisaster; stillafraidofrds; teamdesantis; trump; trumpbot; untestednationally
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Tapia made those remarks just before DeSantis held a giant donor conference in Trump’s hometown of Palm Beach. But the former ambassador told The Messenger that he never technically endorsed the governor – despite the media reports – and now he’s prepared to cut a “half million to a million” check to the former president’s MAGA Inc. super PAC to make his allegiance clear.

. . . .

As Breitbart News reported in July:

Republican megadonor Ken Griffin is also reconsidering his support for DeSantis after previously claiming, “our country would be well-served by him as president,” months before DeSantis launched his campaign.

Griffin is one of several donors who supported DeSantis’s gubernatorial campaigns but are shying away from contributing to his presidential campaign. Former Marvel chairman Ike Perlmutter — who donated, with his wife, over $2 million to DeSantis’s gubernatorial reelection campaign — is planning to support Trump’s third White House bid with a “meaningful” contribution, CNBC reported.

Billionaire Ronald Lauder, who donated more than $200,000 to DeSantis’s gubernatorial campaigns, is now considering throwing his financial support to Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), Politico reported.

These rumblings prompted the DeSantis campaign to release a confidential memo, which was ultimately leaked, designed to reassure donors in July. However, his strategy — of focusing on early primary states rather than Super Tuesday states — has failed to materialize in the polls, as he is down double digits to Trump and even falling behind Nikki Haley in states such as South Carolina and New Hampshire.


1 posted on 11/14/2023 3:12:27 PM PST by SoConPubbie
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To: SoConPubbie

If he drops out and says he shouldn’t have run and puts full support behind Trump and holds to it, maybe he can be considered again.


2 posted on 11/14/2023 3:37:46 PM PST by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: ifinnegan

Waiting until the starting light turns GREEN is the hardest thing to do in a race——

HE HAS FOULED OUT


3 posted on 11/14/2023 3:43:16 PM PST by ridesthemiles
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To: SoConPubbie

He had to run. He was in the zone. One never knows what will happen to the front runner.

Remember when GHWB was practically guaranteed reelection. Mario Cuomo stayed out. Jay Rockafeller stayed out. Others stayed out. Then, intending 1992 to be his practice run, Bill Clinton waltzed to the WH.

Anything can happen. ALL of the Pubbies who ran this cycle did the right thing. What they do next is the big test.


4 posted on 11/14/2023 3:47:08 PM PST by jimfree (My 21 y/o granddaughter continues to have more quality exec experience than Joe Biden.)
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To: SoConPubbie
“The name-calling has turned a lot of people off,” he said at the time. “Let me tell you, we don’t like that.”

He's FOS. Big donors and the bribes they give to corrupt politicians have turned the U.S. into a bucket of s**t.

They need to be publicly mocked and ridiculed 24/7.

Go Trump!

5 posted on 11/14/2023 3:48:28 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: jimfree

Yep, no one was expecting Ross Perot to enter.


6 posted on 11/14/2023 3:51:48 PM PST by Macho MAGA Man (The last two weren't balloons. One was a cylindrical objects Trump is being given the Alex Jones tr)
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To: All

I could have told them that months ago and I’m not even a millionaire.


7 posted on 11/14/2023 3:53:14 PM PST by escapefromboston (Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.)
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To: ifinnegan

His silence on the Trump persecutions and the J6 victims keeps him out of the running for me.


8 posted on 11/14/2023 4:13:24 PM PST by dgbrown
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To: SoConPubbie

9 posted on 11/14/2023 4:14:30 PM PST by bigbob
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To: ifinnegan
If he drops out and says he shouldn’t have run and puts full support behind Trump and holds to it, maybe he can be considered again.

Too many recent alliances with anti-Trumpers. He won't be trusted again by either side. He is counting on Trump flaring out and benefitting from the inevitable backlash. He did it foolishly though. He made it personal when he didn't have to . Ramaswamy, who I certainly do NOT support, actually knows how to play the game better, and is not peeing on his future.
10 posted on 11/14/2023 4:15:53 PM PST by Dr. Sivana ("If you can’t say something nice . . . say the Rosary." [Red Badger])
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To: bigbob

Few seem to remember DeSantis has served just one term as governor, a position he won by 0.4% of the vote over Andrew Gillum.


11 posted on 11/14/2023 4:16:10 PM PST by bigbob
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To: SoConPubbie

He’s never been ready for it. Nor will he ever be.

The political machine is stacked entirely in favor of the RIGHT. Someone would actually have to try and eff that up.

He’s a construct of the GOPe and UNIPARTY to take out Pres Trump. Nothing more.


12 posted on 11/14/2023 4:18:38 PM PST by qaz123
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To: SoConPubbie

He’ll never be ready. He lacks the toolbox.


13 posted on 11/14/2023 4:23:13 PM PST by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51; Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: ridesthemiles
HE HAS FOULED OUT

I see him as a first year NFL quarterback. He's had a great collage career but he needs a few years on the bench learning the program before he can be great.

Rushing him into the lineup before he is ready is not good for him or the team.

He needs to support the current quarterback, learn all he can and be prepared for when his time has come.

Yea I know, I hate sports analogies to.

14 posted on 11/14/2023 4:25:13 PM PST by usurper (AI was born with a birth defect.)
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To: usurper
I see him as a first year NFL quarterback. He's had a great collage career but he needs a few years on the bench learning the program before he can be great.

Houston Texans fans would disagree.

15 posted on 11/14/2023 4:26:38 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: jimfree

” Bill Clinton waltzed to the WH.”

Just like Obama.


16 posted on 11/14/2023 4:30:15 PM PST by TexasGator
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To: jimfree

“Then, intending 1992 to be his practice run, Bill Clinton waltzed to the WH”.
______________________________

Actually, Clinton won the WH with 43% of the popular vote. You left out that Ross Perot doomed GWH Bush by taking 19% of the vote. Perot also prevented Dole from winning in 1996. Clinton never achieved a majority of the popular vote in either of his victories.


17 posted on 11/14/2023 4:33:04 PM PST by pkajj
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To: bigbob

“Few seem to remember DeSantis has served just one term as governor, a position he won by 0.4% of the vote...”
________________________________

DeSantis is well into his second term, and has had a stellar record as one the most conservative governors in the country. He won his re-election last year by 19%.


18 posted on 11/14/2023 4:35:32 PM PST by pkajj
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To: ifinnegan
If he drops out and says he shouldn’t have run and puts full support behind Trump and holds to it, maybe he can be considered again.

I would disagree. I look at this guy and I see backstabber. Untrustworthy. He owns it. He has a history now. Me personally, I won't be forgiving him for sticking his knife into Trumps back. I've been around backstabbers and posers outside the computer world on occasion. I never forget those people.

19 posted on 11/14/2023 4:36:51 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: SoConPubbie

I’m no fan and certainly not in his corner, but he was fine and ready before Trump jumped in.


20 posted on 11/14/2023 4:45:17 PM PST by joesbucks (It's called love-bombing. Claiming he's saving the world. This is a cult. Just back away. )
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