U.S. Metals Magnate Dumps DeSantis, Backs Scott As GOP Prexy Bet

Metals magnate and Republican donor Andy Sabin said he has soured on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over his stance on abortion and Ukraine and is now backing Senator Tim Scott instead in the 2024 Republican White House race, Alexandra Ulmer and Jason Lange reported for Reuters.

Photo Insert: Senator Tim Scott

Sabin had been considering donating to DeSantis, who is expected to officially announce a White House run in June, but changed his mind after the governor signed a new law banning abortions after six weeks and called the war in Ukraine a "territorial dispute."

His decision not to back DeSantis underscores concerns among some deep-pocketed GOP donors about the governor's viability after he signed the abortion restrictions into law and lost ground in opinion polls to former President Donald Trump.

"I like DeSantis. He's a great governor, but I don't think he can win a national election with his viewpoint on abortion," Sabin, a prominent donor who hosts fundraisers for candidates, said in an interview with Reuters.

Sabin, who has donated about $1.7 million to Republican campaigns in the last three election cycles according to the non-profit OpenSecrets, made his money in precious metals. He is the chairman of the board of Sabin Metal Corp.

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