In a surprising turn of events, Fox Corporation founder and CEO, Rupert Murdoch, appears to be growing wary of the potential candidacy of the Republican Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis.
Sources close to Murdoch have allegedly reported his dissatisfaction with Donald Trump’s prominent lead in the early 2024 primary polls. Rumors have been rife since the 2020 midterms and even earlier this year that the media mogul would refrain from supporting Trump’s third attempt for the presidency. Murdoch had apparently put his bets on DeSantis, who, in his view, had a higher chance of winning a general election.
Inside reports suggest Murdoch has been privately expressing his doubts about DeSantis’ possible comeback, given his current performance. Since his entry into the race in May, DeSantis’ support has remained stagnant in the low 20s in most polls. In stark contrast, Trump continues to hold 50 percent or more support among likely primary voters.
One of the insiders reportedly said that Murdoch fears being “stuck” with Trump as the nominee due to DeSantis’ underperformance. And if current trends persist, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Murdoch and his son Lachlan rethink their support for DeSantis.
Despite the circulating concerns, DeSantis remains unfazed. During an interview with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo, the governor dismissed the narrative of a “lagging” campaign. He expressed confidence in his ability to beat Biden, given the opportunity.
DeSantis recalled his historic victory in Florida’s governor race, where he claimed the largest victory for any Republican candidate in the state’s history, despite media reports suggesting that his re-election campaign was stalling. He firmly believes his candidacy is built for longevity, ready to defy skeptics and emerge victorious.
In an interesting twist, unlike in the tightly contested 2018 race where Trump endorsed DeSantis for governorship, there was no such endorsement during his 2022 re-election bid. Regardless, DeSantis triumphed, winning the state by nearly 20 points.
The dynamic between Trump, DeSantis, and Murdoch is undoubtedly captivating, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming Republican primary debate scheduled for Aug. 23 in Milwaukee. As the political chessboard continues to evolve, it’s clear that the stakes for the GOP’s 2024 bid are only getting higher.
