Only 30 Voters Attended Ron DeSantis’ Meet-And-Greet in New Hampshire

On Saturday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) held a meet-and-greet at the New Hampshire Home Builders Association in Concord. For just one dollar, voters were invited to drink beer with the presidential candidate.

The Home Builders Association originally wanted to charge the public $50, but discounted the price in hopes of building a crowd. By the time the event started, however, only 30 people were in the room.

DeSantis’ campaign did not take off as many had hoped. He is currently trailing Republican frontrunner Donald Trump by 37 points and is losing the support of conservative voters and donors who believe that his views on social issues are too extreme.

Saturday’s event was just one in a trail through Iowa and New Hampshire that is meant to boast public interest in DeSantis’ candidacy. His campaign has shed almost 40 staff members and has promised allies a new path forward.

In campaign memos and donor conversations, DeSantis advisers have disclosed the Florida governor’s plan to become more approachable through hosting intimate dinners and town halls.

“The media will continue their obsession with endless clickbait stories that do nothing to inform voters, and Ron DeSantis will keep sharing his plans to declare America’s economic independence and restore sanity in our country as the next president,” DeSantis campaign spokesperson Andrew Romeo told NBC News.

Polls have suggested that DeSantis is still struggling to connect with voters on a personal level, he has said that efforts to redefine his campaign are going as planned.

“We’re making big, big progress,” DeSantis said to NBC. “I’m going to say I have been in your community, We’ve listened to your concerns, and we’re going to deliver results for you.”