A.G. Gancarski
Appearing on Fox News Thursday afternoon ahead of his debate with U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, Agriculture Commissioner and GOP gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam projected confidence that his grassroots appeal would help to sway undecided voters his way, despite the President’s endorsement of his opponent.
In the most recent Fox News poll of the Putnam/DeSantis heat, Putnam was up 32 to 17 percent, with just over half of voters undecided.
Putnam asserted: “The lead in the polls is a reflection of the grassroots passion and energy that we have.”
“I’ve been in every town in Florida practically … the same grassroots energy and passion that propelled our president into the White House is going to make me the next governor,” Putnam said.
“Tonight’s debate will give us the opportunity to speak to those undecided voters about my Florida First agenda, about putting Florida’s safety first and the sheriffs’ endorsements,” Putnam said. “About putting Florida’s families first and about putting jobs first.”
Despite Trump’s endorsement of DeSantis, Putnam lauded the president throughout the interview, even during a question about Florida’s three migrant child detention centers.
“President Trump has put out his pillars plan. Secure our borders. End the visa lottery system. Reform chain migration. Bring a permanent solution to DACA,” Putnam said. “A nation without borders is not a nation.”
Putnam added that immigration policy must be conducted in a “humane way” and “the president has been very clear about that in keeping families together.”
“But we have to have secure borders,” he said. “We have to make sure those immigration laws are followed.”
