A network of wealthy donors known as the American Opportunity Alliance is scheduled to meet next month in Dallas to hear final pitches from advisers of two Republican candidates, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida and former governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina. The meeting, hosted by real estate developer Harlan Crow, aims to assess whether contributing to DeSantis or Haley’s campaigns is still a worthwhile investment amid concerns that a divided Republican primary may lead to Donald Trump’s renomination. The gathering reflects the current reality of the race, with Trump leading in the polls and calling on the Republican National Committee to cancel the remaining primary debates and unite behind him.
Both DeSantis and Haley are trailing behind Trump in the polls and face a challenging task in trying to stop his nomination. DeSantis has lost ground to the former president in recent months and is banking on a strong showing in Iowa, the first state to vote. Meanwhile, Haley’s team sees being given equal prominence with DeSantis at the donor meeting as a success, considering her momentum and fundraising achievements. Despite efforts by anti-Trump groups to undermine his support, a memo from Win It Back PAC, which seeks to soften Trump’s support in Iowa, acknowledges the difficulty of challenging his conservative credentials and his ability to dismiss objections from primary voters.
Amid these challenges, some Republican donors are increasingly skeptical of finding a viable alternative to Trump. The Win It Back PAC has scaled back its spending on advertisements, while strategist Sarah Longwell has put her group’s spending on hold, believing that there is currently no realistic path for any other candidate. These donors are instead saving their resources for the general election, recognizing the difficulty of beating Trump without a strong alternative. As the meeting approaches, the priority for these donors is to find a candidate who can defeat President Biden in the upcoming election.