Trump campaign trying to lure DeSantis’ top donors

Former President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign is reportedly courting some of Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ top donors in an attempt to get them to switch allegiances and support Trump. 

The Trump campaign, according to Politico, fired off a memo to DeSantis contributors on Tuesday arguing that Trump, 76, will be the inevitable GOP presidential nominee and showcasing the 45th president’s recent surge in polling. 

“The two things the memo illustrates are the President’s huge numbers and Governor Ron DeSantis’ collapsing numbers,” the Trump campaign memo reads, according to Politico. “Now is the time to demonstrate your support and join” Trump’s 2024 effort.

The three-page missive is the work of Trump campaign pollster John McLaughlin, according to the news outlet, and it reviews recent polls showing Trump ahead of DeSantis by double-digits, including in the early primary state of New Hampshire. 

The Trump campaign has capitalized off the former president’s indictment by a Manhattan grand jury last week to the tune of some $10 million, according to Trump.

“My Poll Numbers have never been better, almost $10 Million was raised for the Campaign and, the day was capped off with a very important Speech. If we don’t stop the Radical Left, America is DEAD!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Wednesday, in which he also called the day of his arraignment “perhaps the Best Day in History for somebody who had just suffered Unjustifiable Indictment!” 

His campaign had previously announced last week that more than $4 million was raised toward his presidential run in the first 24 hours after the indictment against him was revealed. 

The campaign noted that more than 25% of the donations came from first-time Trump donors, and the average contribution was $34.

DeSantis, who is widely expected to launch a 2024 White House run after Florida’s legislative session ends in the summer, has a sizable warchest of his own. 

The Florida governor has $90 million in leftover funds from his 2022 re-election campaign and earlier this week, a super PAC aligned with DeSantis announced that it had raised $30 million.