A prominent Republican donor who had previously supported Ron DeSantis is now redirecting significant financial resources towards former President Donald Trump after DeSantis withdrew from the Republican primaries, as reported by The Epoch Times.
In February, MAGA Inc. received a series of million-dollar donations, with the most substantial contribution coming from the primary donor of DeSantis’s GOP nomination campaign. Federal Election Commission records show that on February 9th, aerospace and real estate tycoon Robert Bigelow donated $5 million to MAGA Inc., according to the publication.
The outlet noted further:
“On March 20, various committees associated with former President Donald Trump published their financial reports with the Federal Election Commission reflecting their February activities.
“The three organizations that issued a monthly report on March 20—the principal campaign committee Donald J. Trump for President 2024 Inc., the qualified leadership PAC Save America, and the super PAC Make America Great Again Inc.—reported they collectively had about $63.1 million in cash on hand at the end of February.
“The three groups, as a whole, raised about $28.7 million in total receipts and sent out about $22 million in total disbursements.”
Bigelow, the president and founder of Bigelow Aerospace, a company located in North Las Vegas, Nevada, made a generous donation of $20 million to Never Back Down Inc., a super PAC that backed DeSantis in 2023. Additionally, he contributed $10 million to a political fund in Florida that supported DeSantis in 2022.
Bigelow serves as the president of Your Best Management Group LLC, the owner of Budget Suites of America. In 2023, he announced his decision to shift his allegiance to Trump due to his disappointment with DeSantis’ campaign.
Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign continues to receive positive coverage, causing concern within President Joe Biden’s campaign. Just the News recently published a series of polls indicating that Trump has either maintained or expanded his lead over Biden in seven crucial swing states.
“Trump leads Biden by 4% in Arizona, 1% in Michigan, 3% in Nevada and 3% in Wisconsin, according to four polls released Wednesday and Thursday by Emerson College Polling/The Hill,” the outlet noted, citing the surveys.
“Trump is also ahead of Biden by 3% in North Carolina and 4% in Georgia, according to polls released Wednesday by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. Meanwhile, an Emerson College survey released last week shows Trump leads Biden by 4% in Pennsylvania,” the outlet continued.
That being said, Donald Trump’s advantage falls within the range of uncertainty in at least three states: Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nevada. Furthermore, he is within the 3.6 percent margin of error according to the Marist poll in North Carolina.
It is important to note that these figures do not include third-party candidates, so they may change, especially if Robert F. Kennedy manages to secure a place on the ballot. Currently, he has successfully completed the necessary steps to secure a ballot position in Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, and New Hampshire, as stated on his website. The Biden campaign is clearly feeling the pressure, as they have started aggressively raising funds. Additionally, earlier this month, they made a $30 million ad purchase in several battleground states.
According to Politico, the Biden campaign is launching a six-week, $30 million advertising blitz in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina. The aim of this ad campaign is to highlight various Biden initiatives related to climate change and abortion, while also addressing concerns about the president’s mental sharpness. This campaign aligns with a broader effort by the administration to gain support among black Americans and young people, especially considering Trump’s lead in the polls.
Politico also pointed out that the ad fails to mention the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, instead choosing to focus on Trump’s alleged infringement on women’s reproductive rights. The ad specifically targets minorities and young voters, with a strong emphasis on social media platforms. Additionally, it will be aired on cable networks such as ESPN, TNT, FX, and Comedy Central, as confirmed by the campaign.