President Donald Trump's ongoing support and Tuesday rally in Florida for gubernatorial candidate Rep. Ron DeSantis is indicative that Trump is working on a GOP makeover in the state ahead of 2020, Politico reports.
Trump's path to getting reelected runs through Florida, and a would-be Gov. DeSantis - along with a Sen. Rick Scott - would be a formidable primer for the president, pols and strategists tell Politico.
“Trump is vertically integrating the Republican party,” Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, an avid supporter of the president's, told Politico. "He’s reshaping the Republican party not just in his rhetoric, that story has been written a thousand times, but through a personnel standpoint."
Trump's rally in Tampa on Tuesday for DeSantis is just the latest push; the president endorsed DeSantis over the GOP establishment pick, Adam Putnam, in December, and he hasn't stopped.
"It’s a show of force,” Steve Vancore, a Democratic Florida pollster, told Politico. "Donald Trump is serious about winning the races that are important to him.
"I don’t believe for a second when I hear Democrats say we prefer DeSantis because he’s crazier than Putnam and he’s more right wing and that sets up a better electorate,” Vancore told Politico. "My response is: is that the advice you’re getting from the Hillary Clinton White House?”
DeSantis is running to replace the termed-out Scott, who is running for Senate against Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson.
The Republican gubernatorial primary in Florida is Aug. 28.
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