ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting the Florida governor’s 2024 presidential bid, intends to bring in $100 million in additional cash by March 2024 – just in time for Super Tuesday.
The PAC had nearly $97 million on hand at the end of June thanks to a slate of wealthy Republican donors who contributed $1 million or more. Former Trump supporter and Nevada hotel magnate Robert Bigelow contributed more than $20 million and Silicon Valley investor Douglas Leone gave $2 million.
“DIRECT VOTER CONTACT”
These large donations, combined with $82.5 million from the governor’s former Florida political fund, propelled the PAC into a highly efficient operation that spends four out of every five dollars on “direct voter contact.”
The organization has invested in technology that drives the field program and leaders boast they have built the most experienced team ever formed by a super PAC.
“Every conversation at the door, every text message reply is making us smarter and more efficient,” Never Back Down’s CEO Chris Jankowski told The Florida Standard.
“We are running a full-scale operation that has never been done before at this level by either party. Donald Trump is using most of his donors’ money to cover his legal fees. This isn’t close,” Jankowski added.
PUSHING BOUNDARIES
The PAC is pushing the boundaries on what outside groups normally do to assist official presidential campaigns. The organization recently stepped up to organize multiple bus tours to bring DeSantis out to mingle with voters in all 99 Iowa counties.
As the governor’s official campaign cuts back, the PAC plans to invite DeSantis to more events as the primary season heats up. Under federal campaign rules, the governor can attend bus tours, parades and political rallies as a special guest – but must keep his official campaign fundraising efforts separate.
Never Back Down officials said their focus is on running an efficient operation and have been careful to use vendors who agree to make limited profits. Other than media buys, the PAC does not pay commissions to fundraisers, media consultants or vendors.
