Top donors, souring on DeSantis, start looking at Tim Scott

Now, several donors are starting to more seriously mull backing Scott — a more traditional Republican alternative to the populist and combative Trump and DeSantis. Billionaire businessman Ronald Lauder recently flew to South Carolina to meet with Scott, according to three people aware of the late June meeting. He’s donated the maximum allowable amount to Scott’s campaign and said he intends to give to his super PAC. Other New York-based donors are also kicking the tires on Scott, according to three people based in the city who work closely with donors and were granted anonymity to freely discuss internal strategy. And despite his stumbles in the primary — and his ruffling of some potential donors — DeSantis still appears to attract wealthy Republican backers.