Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is likely to receive a polling bump of four percent or less – i.e. within the margin of error – on the back of Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’s expected endorsement this week. Reynolds, who had originally pledged to remain “neutral” in the race, is being wheeled out as the Florida Governor continues to struggle in battleground states and indeed with his online operation spiraling out of control.
But Reynolds is one of the least liked Republican governors in the country right now, and pollster Tony Fabrizio has previously pointed out how an endorsement from Reynolds will mean very little to Iowans ahead of the caucuses in January. The same, Fabrizio notes, applies to New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, who DeSantis has spent months wooing.
“When Ron DeSantis finally realizes he can’t win Iowa or New Hampshire on his own merits, he’ll look to his fellow governors as a lifeline… However, what he doesn’t realize is that their endorsements do nothing to change his fortunes. DeSantis is in a house of mirrors, and the only way out is through the floor,” Fabrizio told The Messenger in September.
DeSantis has made numerous attempts to cozy up to both Governors, including suggesting he would nominate Reynolds as his Vice President and recently touring New Hampshire alongside Sununu.
Critics have also noted that there are two critical gubernatorial races on Tuesday – in Kentucky and Mississippi – yet Reynolds, who serves as the Chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association, will snub those races and instead campaign alongside Ron DeSantis.
There are two competitive Governor races in Mississippi and Kentucky on the ballot this Tuesday.
Kim Reynolds is the RGA Chair.
But Kim Reynolds is spending Election Eve campaigning with Rob DeSanctimonious in Iowa.
Don’t quit on them, RGA!
— Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) November 5, 2023
