President Donald Trump is diving deep into Florida's Republican politics, joining his preferred candidate for governor in a competitive primary.
Trump is holding a rally in Tampa tonight in a show of force for congressman Ron DeSantis, who faces off against state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam in the state's Aug. 28 GOP primary.
Trump started his morning with a tweet, strongly endorsing DeSantis.
Will be in Tampa tonight. A big year for @RepDeSantis, who will be a great governor for Florida. Strong on Crime, Borders and our 2nd Amendment. Big help on Tax & Regulation Cuts. Loves our Military & our Vets. Has my Full & Total Endorsement!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2018
Another Trump ally, Gov. Rick Scott, is joining the president when he visits Tampa Bay Tech for a roundtable discussion on career and technical education earlier in the day. But the governor is steering clear of the Tampa rally as he prepares for the Senate primary. Scott is seeking to defeat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in a high-profile Senate race.
Trump has played a role in several Republican primaries, helping candidates in Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina in recent weeks with endorsements that underscore his influence within the GOP.
For tickets to the rally at the fairgrounds visit
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