Jeff Roe, Main Strategist for DeSantis Super PAC, Resigns

Jeff Roe, chief strategist for 'Never Back Down' — the super PAC backing the presidential run of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — resigned from the group on Saturday night.

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Jeff Roe Resigns from DeSantis Super PAC

Jeff Roe, the chief strategist for the 'Never Back Down' super PAC supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in his presidential campaign, has stepped down from his position. Roe's resignation comes in the wake of several high-ranking officials being fired after Scott Wagner took over as the PAC's new chairman.

As the architect of the PAC's ground game operation in Iowa, Roe played a significant role in DeSantis' campaign. However, his departure was prompted by a critical statement made by Wagner in response to a Washington Post article. Wagner cited mismanagement and conduct issues, including unauthorized leaks of false information, as the reason for terminating senior officials within the PAC.

After his initial statement was challenged by a lawyer representing the terminated employees, Wagner revised his statement to address 'opinions regarding mismanagement and conduct issues.' However, Roe chose to resign immediately, expressing his disagreement with the statements made by Wagner and emphasizing his commitment to Governor DeSantis.

DeSantis' Standing in the Polls

Despite the setback within the super PAC, Governor DeSantis faces challenges in his bid for the presidency. Polls indicate that he is significantly trailing former President Donald Trump in Iowa, the first state in the GOP nominating contest. He also lags behind both Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in New Hampshire.

These poll results highlight the tough competition that DeSantis must overcome to secure the Republican nomination. While his team's hard work and dedication have positioned him well, there is still work to be done to gain momentum and close the gap in the polls.

Trump's Reaction to Jeff Roe's Resignation

Late on Saturday night, former President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform to comment on Jeff Roe's resignation. Trump declared, 'Jeff Roe is out - GAME OVER for DeSanctimonious.' Throughout the campaign season, Trump has used the derogatory term 'DeSanctimonious' to refer to DeSantis. Trump's statement underscores the intense rivalry between the two politicians in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Roe, who has previous campaign management experience with Senator Ted Cruz and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, has been a key figure in conservative politics. His resignation from the super PAC supporting DeSantis adds another layer of complexity to an already competitive presidential race.