DeSantis is in a automobile accident on his approach to Tennessee presidential marketing campaign occasions however is not injured

WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was in a multi-car accident on Tuesday as he traveled in a motorcade to marketing campaign occasions in Tennessee for his 2024 presidential bid however was unhurt.

Site visitors slowed down and triggered 4 automobiles within the motorcade to hit one another, Chattanooga, Tennessee, police advised WTVC-TV. One employees member suffered a minor damage, police mentioned.

The Republican White Home hopeful and his staff “are unhurt,” marketing campaign press secretary Bryan Griffin advised The Related Press.

Representatives for DeSantis’ marketing campaign didn’t reply questions on who was driving the governor or reveal particulars in regards to the accident. DeSantis was persevering with on to his occasion, spokesman Andrew Romeo mentioned. A spokesman for the Florida governor’s workplace deferred questions in regards to the accident to the marketing campaign.

DeSantis was scheduled to carry occasions all through central and japanese Tennessee, the place he has been focusing a whole lot of consideration in his current campaigning. Earlier this month, he addressed greater than 1,800 attendees at a state GOP dinner in Nashville.

The Florida governor, who has trailed front-runner Donald Trump within the GOP presidential contest, was anticipated to be at fundraiser at a non-public house in Chattanooga on Tuesday. Hosts for the fundraiser have been to pay $10,000 per couple for the occasion, whereas co-hosts have been paying $5,000 and different attendees have been paying $2,000 every, in keeping with the Chattanooga Occasions Free Press.

DeSantis was anticipated to attend further fundraisers on Tuesday in Knoxville and Franklin.

The Republican candidate has been attending a string of fundraisers recently as his marketing campaign has confronted some shocking monetary pressures. He was in Utah over the weekend holding fundraisers and in New York final week for an occasion within the Hamptons.

Simply two months after coming into the race, DeSantis already has been chopping employees whereas going through new questions on his aggressive spending, his media technique and his obvious willingness to brawl with any and all foes aside from Trump, the one particular person he should defeat to assert the GOP’s 2024 presidential nomination.

“The DeSantis marketing campaign is recalibrating. It’s clear it must,” mentioned Republican strategist Terry Sullivan, who managed Marco Rubio’s 2016 presidential marketing campaign. “However on the finish of the day, they’re nonetheless higher positioned than another challenger to Donald Trump, occasions 10.”

DeSantis’ staff has quietly expressed confidence for months that voters would finally tire of Trump’s escalating authorized troubles and private baggage. However that very same baggage, taking part in out within the U.S. authorized system simply because the GOP main intensifies, is leaving treasured little oxygen for his rivals to interrupt by. And Trump’s standing with Republican main voters appears to be rising stronger with each new authorized problem.

Nonetheless, DeSantis’ staff has raised a shocking $150 million for his presidential ambitions to date. The overwhelming majority, $130 million, has gone to a brilliant PAC run by allies who can’t legally coordinate with the marketing campaign.

The DeSantis marketing campaign itself raised greater than $20 million within the first six weeks he was within the race, although lately launched federal filings revealed that he and his staff had burned by greater than $8 million in a spending spree that included greater than 100 paid staffers, a big safety element and luxurious journey.

___

This story has been corrected to indicate DeSantis was in Nashville earlier this month, not final week.

___

Observe the AP’s protection of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at https://apnews.com/hub/ron-desantis.