Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is facing backlash from a major Republican women’s group in New Hampshire, adding to the challenges he’s already experiencing in the state, Politico reports.
What Happened: DeSantis’ visit to New Hampshire on Tuesday coincided with the annual fundraising lunch of the New Hampshire Federation of Republican Women, an event headlined by former President Donald Trump.
The women’s group criticized DeSantis for scheduling his event at the same time, calling it a distraction and asking him to reschedule. However, the DeSantis team dismissed the complaints, arguing that their event was in a different part of the state and at a different time than Trump’s speech.
Despite this, some Republicans in the state criticized DeSantis for engaging in a skirmish with a prominent GOP group, calling it a poor strategic move, according to Politico.
"It's just stupid, actually. You don't take on the New Hampshire Federation of Republican Women." New Hampshire-based Republican strategist Mike Dennehy told Politico. "If he doesn't turn it around, it could be death by a thousand cuts."
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Why It Matters: DeSantis’ struggles in New Hampshire highlight the challenges he faces in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination.
Gaining ground against Trump in a recent GOP primary poll, DeSantis has faced criticism from Trump, who accused him of disloyalty for joining the presidential race.
Trump’s support, however, has dipped below 50% in a key poll, indicating a potential opening for DeSantis and other candidates.
The incident with the New Hampshire Federation of Republican Women adds another layer of complexity to DeSantis’ campaign, demonstrating the potential pitfalls of navigating the political landscape in key states.
As the leading contender against Trump nationally, expectations for DeSantis remain high, even in New Hampshire. His recent missteps, however, may reflect as much about Trump’s strength in the state as they do about DeSantis’ own shortcomings.
The state handed Trump his first primary win in 2016, and he remains popular among the conservative electorate there. This popularity presents a challenge for all GOP nomination candidates, but as the closest competitor, there is additional pressure on DeSantis to perform.
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