Politico: Can Harmeet Dhillon pull off an RNC shocker? [View all]

Last night around 10 p.m. Pacific, we spotted Dhillon standing by herself outside of a lively reception being held in her honor. While others were drinking and socializing, she was working the phones, frantically texting members and bending their ears as they walked by. When Playbook inquired about her whipping effort, she insisted she’s within striking distance.

“I heard some who back Ronna are now kinda freaking out about it. I’ll just leave it at that,” she said, then laughed. “I don’t want to jinx this, but we had a very good night and a very good day.”

Dhillon’s apparent 11th-hour surge comes as she’s spent the past two days apologizing to RNC members for the the flood of email her aggressive corps of grassroots activists have sent their way. She’s also been privately telling members concerned about the diehard MAGA posse around her that she is not an election denier and will do more than McDaniel to push back on Trump when needed.

The charm offensive has had an effect: One RNC member who told us just three days ago that he couldn’t fathom supporting Dhillon told us late last night that after hearing her personal story this week, he may do just that.

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2023/01/27/can-harmeet-dhillon-pull-off-an-rnc-shocker-00079850

DeSantis disrupts tussle over RNC leadership

Watching— Is there a proxy war between former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis being waged at the Republican National Committee? Maybe? Maybe not?

On one side — Trump has not officially taken sides in the tug-of-war between current RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel and Harmeet Dhillon although some of his top aides such as Susie Wiles have been supportive of McDaniel. Dhillon told a POLITICO reporter in California — where the vote takes place today — that Trump’s team was “whipping votes” for McDaniel.

The other side — So then like a thunderbolt, DeSantis weighed in with praise for Dhillon telling Charlie Kirk, the founder of the conservative Turning Point USA who is supporting Dhillon, that “new blood” and a “change” was needed at the RNC. And then shortly after DeSantis made his comments Sen. Rick Scott — who does not have the warmest relationship with the governor — gave his own praise to McDaniel.

Reaction— Dhillon herself said that DeSantis’ comments stopped short of an endorsement and said “I call that answering a comment.” OK, then. But the timing is interesting since the governor’s support came hours ahead of a closely watched vote about the future of the Republican Party.

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/florida-playbook/2023/01/27/desantis-disrupts-tussle-over-rnc-leadership-00079838