Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is Donald Trump's main Republican rival in the 2024 presidential race, is facing challenges in his campaign as he struggles to gain momentum and burns through cash. The campaign has been forced to cut staff, with about 10 employees being let go due to financial constraints and poor public appearances. Concerns have been raised by backers who are alarmed by DeSantis' performance since his botched live presidential launch on Twitter in May. In an attempt to reset his campaign, DeSantis is planning a media blitz and a change in strategy, including offering more policy-focused speeches and agreeing to interviews with mainstream media outlets that he previously shunned.

Despite initially posting an impressive $20 million fundraising haul in the second quarter, DeSantis saw a sharp drop in donations as he struggled to gain momentum. The fundraising surge was primarily driven by deep-pocketed donors, with only 15% coming from small-dollar donors. In contrast, Donald Trump has built a strong grassroots donor base from his supporters who regularly contribute to his campaign. The financial disclosures have raised concerns about DeSantis' ability to compete financially with Trump.

The DeSantis campaign has also faced negative headlines recently, with a paid canvasser supporting his bid being caught on camera making lewd comments and joking about being high on the job. This incident further damaged DeSantis' public image and contributed to a decline in his polling numbers.

The campaign's financial disclosures reveal that DeSantis has spent almost $8 million, leaving him with just $12 million on hand. This includes $3 million that cannot be spent until the general election if DeSantis becomes the Republican nominee. In comparison, Trump has $22.5 million in cash on hand. Another Republican candidate, Tim Scott, also has more than $21 million available for his campaign.

Amidst these challenges, Trump has expressed support for Scott as a potential running mate and suggested that other Republican candidates have reached out to him seeking permission to run. Trump remains the frontrunner in the Republican field, with nearly 50% of support according to polling aggregator FiveThirtyEight. However, DeSantis still holds the second position with around 21% of Republican primary voters backing him.

In response to the campaign's struggles, DeSantis' team has made several changes, including cutting staff and planning a major reset. The campaign is optimistic about DeSantis' prospects and believes that his momentum will continue as voters see more of him in person, particularly in Iowa where he has a more natural constituency. The campaign's super PAC, "Never Back Down," has raised $130 million since its formation in March, providing significant resources for DeSantis' bid.

Overall, the early challenges faced by the DeSantis campaign highlight the difficulties of running against a popular figure like Donald Trump and the importance of fundraising and strategy in a competitive presidential race.