Although Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has not yet announced a bid for the White House in 2024, the super PAC supporting his potential candidacy is more sure than ever that he can best former President Donald Trump in a matchup.
In a statement issued ahead of Trump's 8 p.m. CNN town hall in New Hampshire, Never Back Down CEO Chris Jankowski said, "No amount of CNN town halls can stop the movement behind [DeSantis]."
“CNN and Donald Trump should enjoy the town halls while they last. Years from now, they can remember them fondly as a hallmark of a bygone era, an age when they and their elite opinions actually counted for something," he added.
He further called the live event a "true marriage of equals: A candidate who has lost his luster appearing on a network that’s lost its ratings."
Jankowski then noted that "2024 isn’t 2016," adding that "the old gimmicks and tired lines don’t work anymore."
While DeSantis hasn't announced a campaign, he is heavily speculated to do so in the next month or two.
However, the Florida governor has been steadily losing traction against the former president in hypothetical polls of the Republican 2024 primary.
Support for a DeSantis bid was at its highest following the 2022 midterm elections when key candidates endorsed by Trump failed, particularly when it came to Senate races, and Florida Republicans flourished while the governor sailed to a landslide victory over his challenger.
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After the midterm elections, one-third of potential Republican primary voters expressed support for the Florida governor, a record high for DeSantis.
Now, Trump boasts 60% of support from potential Republican primary voters, according to Morning Consult. DeSantis has 19%. This is down from last week when DeSantis enjoyed 22% of support in the poll.