Presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis revealed Thursday morning that he “should have” made more media appearances on “corporate” networks early on.
DeSantis joined radio host Hugh Hewitt where he said he now realizes working with the media is just as important as being on the ground in Iowa.
“Presidential campaigns are a lot about media,” DeSantis said. “Like, you know, I spent a lot of time on the ground in Iowa, and it’s good. And when you meet people, you convert them. But there’s just so many voters out there that you’ve got to do, and I came in not really doing as much media.”
“I should have just been blanketing,” the Florida governor continued. “I should have gone on all the corporate shows. I should have gone on everything.” (RELATED: MSNBC Analyst Says It’s Unpopular To Speak Positive About Trump, Then Applauds His Campaign)
DeSantis said he eventually increased his media appearances by the “end of summer” in 2023 “but we had an opportunity, I think, to come out of the gate and do that and reach a much broader folk.”
The governor also said now he will “show up wherever.”
DeSantis came in second in the Iowa primaries, gaining 21.2% of the vote and beating former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who came in third with 19.1% of the vote. Both candidates lost to former President Trump who won in a massive landslide. Trump won 98 out of 99 counties, losing Johnson County to Haley by a single vote.
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA – JANUARY 15: Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis greets supporters at his caucus night event on January 15, 2024 in West Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
New Hampshire’s primary is next Tuesday followed by Nevada and South Carolina. DeSantis says he will “100%” stay in the race through the end of primary and caucus season.
DeSantis threw most of his resources into Iowa, with pro-DeSantis ads in the state totaling $59.9 million during this cycle, AdImpact shows. DeSantis secured an endorsement from the state’s Gov. Kim Reynolds and prominent evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats in the lead-up to the race.