Top DeSantis super PAC strategist resigns as Iowa Caucuses near

In a post on X, now-former DeSantis strategist Jeff Roe said, "I can’t believe it ended this way." He added, "I’m so proud to have worked alongside these men and women at NBD 24/7 the past nine months to save the country. Good luck the next 28 days and a wake-up. I’m so sorry I can’t be there with you."

Roe's resignation comes after the Washington Post reported that statements from the super PAC seemed to suggest it had fired officials connected to Roe over "mismanagement and conduct issues."

In Roe's resignation post, he said, "I cannot in good conscience stay affiliated with Never Back Down given the statements in the Washington Post today." Roe continued, "They are not true and an unwanted distraction at a critical time for Governor DeSantis."

Still, Roe threw his support behind the Florida Governor for president. "Governor DeSantis has been an exceptional governor and I hope he will be the 47th President of the United States. I wish the Governor, First Lady, and their entire team the best through the rest of the campaign."

A person with information about the campaign told the Post that the people closest to DeSantis drove the shake-up effort. They said, "The professionals are out and DeSantis wants to go into the home stretch with his closest confidants."

The DeSantis campaign communications director Andrew Romeo said, "We’re not going to be distracted by more false narratives coming from unknown sources with harmful agendas." He added, "We appreciate the independent efforts of our outside partners at NBD as they are building a historic ground game for the fight ahead."

In late November, Chris Jankowski resigned as the Never Back Down CEO saying he believed it was "undeniable" to deliver on the PAC's promise to get DeSantis elected. The Post noted that four other senior officials also departed from the super PAC in November, and three officials from Roe's firm were fired.

Data from Real Clear Politics shows DeSantis' polling average from Nov. 29 to Dec. 14 as less than a point ahead of rival Nikki Haley. DeSantis has the support of 12.5 percent of GOP voters, Haley has 11.8 percent, while former President Donald Trump sits far ahead at 61.9 percent.