DeSantis PAC Hires Campaign Staff In Multiple States

The New York Times reports:

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and his allies are expanding his political footprint in key states that will begin the 2024 presidential nominating contest, with the main super PAC backing his bid making hires in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

The Iowa strategist, Sophie Crowell, managed the successful re-election campaign of Representative Ashley Hinson, Republican of Iowa, in 2022, and is now working for the state party in Florida, according to people familiar with her hiring.

Mr. DeSantis has not yet declared his bid, but a pro-DeSantis super PAC, Never Back Down, has acted as something of a campaign-in-waiting, hiring staff members and responding to regular attacks from former President Donald J. Trump.

NBC News reports:

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Washington on Tuesday to greet a parade of congressional Republicans interested in his emerging presidential campaign. Former President Donald Trump promptly rained on that parade with a shower of endorsements, several of them from their shared home state.

Trump has secured the public backing of seven members of Florida’s congressional delegation, three of whom signed up within hours of each other Tuesday.

Reps. Greg Steube and John Rutherford formally threw their support to Trump. Though a formal announcement will come later, an aide to Rep. Brian Mast confirmed that he plans to endorse Trump as well.

NEW: The pro-DeSantis PAC has been making hires in IA, NH and SC.

Plus, DeSantis has stashed a well-regarded Iowa operative — Rep. Ashley Hinson’s former campaign manager — on the staff of the Republican Party of Florida.

W/ @maggieNYT https://t.co/RhnIRYbW2K

— Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) April 19, 2023