OAN’s Brooke Mallory
11:22 AM – Tuesday, January 16, 2024
One of presidential contender Ron DeSantis’ finance chairs reassured contributors worried about his polling position by saying that the GOP candidate has enough money to support his 2024 campaign past Monday’s Iowa Republican caucus and into the pivotal primaries in March.
“If we have the success I think we can have in Iowa and exceed expectations, I think fundraising will really be robust,” Roy Bailey said in Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday. “We have plenty of fuel in the tank to get the job done to get into Super Tuesday,” referring to March 5th, when 15 states hold GOP primaries.
However, Bailey did acknowledge that it would be challenging to persuade donors to continue funding DeSantis’ campaign in the wake of a less-than-expected showing in the Iowa Republican presidential caucus.
“Most people invest into a pathway to win, and so I have to be honest with you, it would be tough if we don’t have a really good night,” he continued. “It’s going to be tough for any candidate.”
In a survey released on Saturday by the Des Moines Register, NBC News, and Mediacom, DeSantis fell to second place in Iowa, after former president Donald Trump—who was by far the leading front-runner. On Monday evening, the former president led the pack by nearly 30 points.
Former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley had almost snagged second place, but DeSantis finally came back at the end.
The Florida governor has long been ranked second in surveys and was originally assumed to be Trump’s main contender for the GOP nomination.
In spite of the freezing weather that may have tempered enthusiasm, DeSantis’ ground operation would turn out voters on Monday, according to a letter his campaign emailed to contributors that same day.
Bailey, the CEO of Bailey Deason Capital Interests, LLC, stated that the campaign has the potential to “shock the world” if DeSantis exceeds expectations that have been moderated earlier in the presidential cycle.
“I don’t think you have to beat Trump to win tonight,” Bailey said.
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