Ron DeSantis.Photo:AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
Ron DeSantis' 2024 presidential campaign has lost another wealthy mega-donor, who said the far-right Florida governor will “lose” unless he adopts a more moderate stance.
Speaking toReuters, hotel entrepreneur Robert Bigelow said, “Extremism isn’t going to get you elected," adding that a lot of potential DeSantis donors are “still on the fence” about supporting him.
“He does need to shift to get to moderates. He’ll lose if he doesn’t," Bigelow said.
As Reuters notes, Bigelow gave $20 million to the pro-DeSantis PAC Never Back Down in March. But for now he’s pulling back, telling Reuters he won’t continue to fund the campaign “until I see that he’s able to generate more on his own.”
Under the new law, abortions would be allowed only in cases to save a pregnant person’s life. Abortions from pregnancies resulting in rape or incest would be allowed until 15 weeks of gestation, but only if the woman has proof of a restraining order or police report, theAssociated Pressreported.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis holds up a 15-week abortion ban law after signing it on April 14, 2023.John Raoux/AP/Shutterstock
Bigelow’s decision to stop financing DeSantis' campaign comes on the heels of reports revealing that some other billionaire mega-donors have had second thoughts.
On July 24, theSouth Florida Sun Sentinelreported that Nelson Peltz, a billionaire businessman and the father of actressNicola Peltz Beckham, is among those “rethinking” their support for the Florida governor.
Peltz, who was expected to be a huge financial asset to the campaign, allegedly “thinks that most of DeSantis’s policies are acceptable, but his position on abortion is way too severe,” a source told theFinancial Times.
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The DeSantis campaign has been facing other controversies and in recent weeks,reportedly fired numerous campaign staffersamid financial woes and lackluster poll numbers.
source: people.com
