(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) The presidential campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis could face a major financial setback as its biggest backer could jump ship and back a different candidate.
Real estate mogul Robert Bigelow, identified as DeSantis’ primary financial supporter, is now contemplating shifting his allegiance to GOP frontrunner Donald Trump.
“I’ve got to look at who would probably be the strongest commander, with the most experience . . . And that’s only one guy,” Bigelow said in an interview with the Financial Times.
According to the outlet, Bigelow had contributed a staggering $20 million to boost the DeSantis campaign, marking the largest single donation to any presidential candidate ahead of the 2024 election.
Bigelow’s sentiments tilted towards Trump as he emphasized, “Who would you want as a commander? I’d want somebody that would be a hell of an ass kicker if he needed to be,” he added. “On the face of it, you lean toward Trump.”
In a striking comparison, he described Trump as a “bull” and DeSantis as “dinner.”
BREAKING: Ron DeSantis’ biggest donor says Trump is doing to win
“Trump is a bull. DeSantis is dinner” – Rob Bigelow
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) November 8, 2023
The real estate tycoon attributed his new political stance to the recent Hamas terrorist attack against Israel, asserting the need of a “streetwise” leader.
“I think Trump is too strong,” Bigelow continued. “I think Trump has the momentum, the inertia, to beat him.”
The sharp criticisms come at a time when DeSantis faces a significant challenge in catching up to Trump’s lead in multiple polls. An Oct. 7 poll by the University of North Florida shows a substantial 39-point gap between DeSantis and Trump among GOP voters in the governor’s home state.
Dr. Michael Binder, the polling faculty director and political scientist, warned that the numbers are not good for DeSantis’ national campaign. “Despite historically high approval in the polls, Governor DeSantis losing steam in his home state doesn’t bode well for his national campaign,” he said. “Even if you wipe out the rest of the competition in a head-to-head, Trump leads DeSantis by 20 points.”
