Ron DeSantis replaces campaign manager as he continues reset of presidential bid

If the election is *** referendum on Joe Biden's policies and the failures that we've seen and we are presenting *** positive vision for the future. We will win the presidency and we will have *** chance to turn the country around. If on the other hand, the election is not about January 20th, 2025 but January 6th, 2021 or what document was left by the toilet at Mar *** Lago. If it's *** referendum on that, we are going to lose. And that's just the reality, you know, with Trump in the race that is largely what it's going to be about. And right now they're not fighting against Joe Biden, you're fighting against. That's not ***, that's not *** pathway for success for the Republican Party. I think *** lot of our voters understand that. Yes or no. Did Donald Trump lose the 2020 election? Whoever puts their hand on the Bible on January 20th every four years is the winner? Ok. But respectfully, you did not clearly answer that question and if you can't give *** yes or no on whether or not Trump lost, then how? Of course no, of course he lost. Trump lost the 2020 election of Joe Biden is the president. But the issue is, I think what people in the media and elsewhere they want to act like somehow this was just like the perfect election. Governor desantis fighting his own battle to convince voters and donors that he has *** shot at beating Mr Trump despite lagging poll numbers *** campaign cash crunch and relentless attacks from his rivals. Recently, his biggest individual donor threatening to pull back his cash unless Governor desantis takes less extreme positions and shows he can win over moderates. *** chief concern the six week abortion ban desantis signed in Florida. It's an issue Democrats have worked to use against him and other Republicans on the campaign trail. The governor has implied the issue should be left to individual states. So would you veto any sort of federal bill that tries to put *** nationwide ban in place? So we will be *** pro life president and we will support pro life policies. I would not allow what *** lot of the left wants to do, which is to override pro life protections throughout the country all the way up really until the moment of birth in some instances, which I think is in fan aside, I got to push back on you on that because that, that's *** misrepresentation of what's happening. I mean, that 1.3% of abortions happen at 21 weeks or higher, there's no evidence of Democrats pushing for. But their view until their view is, is that all the way up into that, that there should not be any legal protections. There is no indication of Democrats pushing for that much of the dissent as pitch to voters revolves around being *** husband and father and he's put his family front and center on the campaign trail, whether he's talking his education policy or highlighting his contrast in age with his opponents. But it's DeSantis wife Casey, who's arguably become his biggest asset, the former news anchor who grew up in blue collar, Ohio brings the charm and charisma critics often claim her husband lacks. What made you both decide to bring Casey in as such *** big part of this campaign. Ok. So because it's not like anybody said, oh, we need to deploy Casey to get out there and do it. No, this is totally because I want to do it in October 2021 Casey desantis was diagnosed with breast cancer. He was there for me and he was there to go pick up my kids when I couldn't. And he did it with humility and he did it with love and I'll tell you what I can't ask for *** better husband than that. Yeah. You know, I mean, I, so how does it feel? How does it feel to hear her say that? I mean, well, look, that's, you know, you know, in sickness and in health, that, that's what you sign up for. I mean, and so she's not only my wife, she's my best friend. And so, you know, this is just what you do.

Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis is replacing his campaign manager as the Florida governor continues to reset his stagnant presidential campaign.DeSantis is bringing on James Uthmeier, his chief of staff from his state office, to serve as his campaign manager, replacing Generra Peck, who led DeSantis' reelection campaign last year before jumping into the same role on his presidential bid.Peck will stay on as a strategist.The changes come after DeSantis made two big staff cuts in the past few weeks, laying off about a third of his staff in late July as the campaign faced financial trouble.“James Uthmeier has been one of Governor DeSantis’ top advisers for years, and he is needed where it matters most: working hand in hand with Generra Peck and the rest of the team to put the governor in the best possible position to win this primary and defeat Joe Biden,” campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo said in a statement.DeSantis has been Donald Trump's strongest rival in the crowded GOP presidential field, but the former president has kept a commanding lead in polls. Trump, who regularly needles DeSantis, declared on his social media network Tuesday, “DeSanctimonious is CRASHING! Perhaps Party should come together???”As expected for someone still running a state, DeSantis has kept in contact with his chief of staff while campaigning, with a call to Uthmeier regularly being among the few items on the daily public schedule released by the governor's office.Politico in October obtained text messages that showed Uthmeier was involved in Florida’s program to fly migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard last year.NBC News reported in June that while Uthmeier remained in DeSantis’ government office, he was also working as a political fundraiser for the governor’s presidential campaign. The arrangement was unusual and government watchdog groups said it raised ethical questions.Before he worked for DeSantis, Uthmeier worked in the Trump administration for U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, where his work on the efforts to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census later became part of a congressional committee investigation.Uthmeier will be on a leave of absence from the governor's office. Florida's Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly will serve as acting chief of staff and work with senior adviser David Dewhirst, office spokesman Jeremy Redfern said.DeSantis is also hiring an operative who was working on a super PAC that had been supporting his campaign. David Polyansky, who had been advising Never Back Down, will join the campaign as a deputy campaign manager.Romeo said Polyansky will be a critical addition to the team given his previous experience working in early voting Iowa, which has become a proving ground for the DeSantis campaign. Polyansky worked on the presidential campaigns of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in 2016. In Iowa, he helped Joni Ernst first win election to the U.S. Senate in 2014 and helped Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee win in the Iowa Republican presidential caucuses in 2008.Polyansky was traveling with DeSantis in Iowa to events Saturday sponsored by Never Back Down, which as a super PAC, can receive unlimited sums from donors but is barred under federal rules from coordinating with campaigns on how their money is spent.Polyansky is listed as the chief strategy officer for Axiom Strategies, a political consulting firm whose founder, Jeff Roe, and other staffers are working for Never Back Down.Brett Kappel, a campaign finance lawyer who has advised Republicans and Democrats, said it's not unusual for a consulting firm to have employees advising both a super PAC and a campaign, but such a person typically takes a leave of absence or signs document establishing a firewall against restricted coordination.The DeSantis campaign did not respond to a message about whether Polyansky is staying at his firm or signing a firewall agreement.The staff shakeup was first reported by The Messenger on Tuesday.___Associated Press writer Thomas Beaumont in Des Moines contributed to this report.

Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis is replacing his campaign manager as the Florida governor continues to reset his stagnant presidential campaign.

DeSantis is bringing on James Uthmeier, his chief of staff from his state office, to serve as his campaign manager, replacing Generra Peck, who led DeSantis' reelection campaign last year before jumping into the same role on his presidential bid.

Peck will stay on as a strategist.

The changes come after DeSantis made two big staff cuts in the past few weeks, laying off about a third of his staff in late July as the campaign faced financial trouble.

“James Uthmeier has been one of Governor DeSantis’ top advisers for years, and he is needed where it matters most: working hand in hand with Generra Peck and the rest of the team to put the governor in the best possible position to win this primary and defeat Joe Biden,” campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo said in a statement.

DeSantis has been Donald Trump's strongest rival in the crowded GOP presidential field, but the former president has kept a commanding lead in polls. Trump, who regularly needles DeSantis, declared on his social media network Tuesday, “DeSanctimonious is CRASHING! Perhaps Party should come together???”

As expected for someone still running a state, DeSantis has kept in contact with his chief of staff while campaigning, with a call to Uthmeier regularly being among the few items on the daily public schedule released by the governor's office.

Politico in October obtained text messages that showed Uthmeier was involved in Florida’s program to fly migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard last year.

NBC News reported in June that while Uthmeier remained in DeSantis’ government office, he was also working as a political fundraiser for the governor’s presidential campaign. The arrangement was unusual and government watchdog groups said it raised ethical questions.

Before he worked for DeSantis, Uthmeier worked in the Trump administration for U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, where his work on the efforts to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census later became part of a congressional committee investigation.

Uthmeier will be on a leave of absence from the governor's office. Florida's Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly will serve as acting chief of staff and work with senior adviser David Dewhirst, office spokesman Jeremy Redfern said.

DeSantis is also hiring an operative who was working on a super PAC that had been supporting his campaign. David Polyansky, who had been advising Never Back Down, will join the campaign as a deputy campaign manager.

Romeo said Polyansky will be a critical addition to the team given his previous experience working in early voting Iowa, which has become a proving ground for the DeSantis campaign.

Polyansky worked on the presidential campaigns of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in 2016. In Iowa, he helped Joni Ernst first win election to the U.S. Senate in 2014 and helped Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee win in the Iowa Republican presidential caucuses in 2008.

Polyansky was traveling with DeSantis in Iowa to events Saturday sponsored by Never Back Down, which as a super PAC, can receive unlimited sums from donors but is barred under federal rules from coordinating with campaigns on how their money is spent.

Polyansky is listed as the chief strategy officer for Axiom Strategies, a political consulting firm whose founder, Jeff Roe, and other staffers are working for Never Back Down.

Brett Kappel, a campaign finance lawyer who has advised Republicans and Democrats, said it's not unusual for a consulting firm to have employees advising both a super PAC and a campaign, but such a person typically takes a leave of absence or signs document establishing a firewall against restricted coordination.

The DeSantis campaign did not respond to a message about whether Polyansky is staying at his firm or signing a firewall agreement.

The staff shakeup was first reported by The Messenger on Tuesday.

___

Associated Press writer Thomas Beaumont in Des Moines contributed to this report.

Ron DeSantis replaces campaign manager as he continues reset of presidential bid

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