Calling it a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Ron DeSantis offered his campaign staff the chance to work for free in exchange for what he called “invaluable skills.”
DeSantis denied that he was making the work-for-free offer because his campaign was in financial distress, arguing instead that it was the best way to provide “personal benefits” to his staffers.
“Oh, sure, you could work someplace where they’ll pay you, like Disney World,” he sneered. “But working for me for nothing will give you skills that will set you up for life.”
“Let’s say you hand out flyers for the campaign,” he said. “With that on your résumé, you could snag a coveted position handing out flyers for a nail salon. Or say you’re in the back room of the campaign office, licking envelopes—someday you could get a job licking any number of things.”
The Florida governor’s proposal drew scorn from his chief rival for the G.O.P. nomination, Donald J. Trump, who claimed it was far from original. “I haven’t paid anyone in years,” Trump said.
