Donald Trump plans Tampa rally for Ron DeSantis

President Donald Trump will host a July 31 rally in Tampa where he is expected to tout his support for Republican gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The rally will take place at 7 p.m. at the Florida State Fairgrounds. It’s the eighth time the President has come to the Tampa area since he declared his run for presidency in 2015.

News of Trump tentatively coming to Tampa on July 31 was first reported in POLITICO Florida’s Playbook on Thursday.

DeSantis, who has surged in polls in recent weeks, already carries Trump endorsements via Twitter. The President in June wrote on the social media platform, “[DeSantis] will be a Great Governor & has my full Endorsement.”

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1010129956222001153

The June tweet followed Trump’s December embrace of the Ponte Vedra Congressman before he officially entered the race for governor.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/944276471614509057

DeSantis is among a select group of Republican congressmen who have habitually defended Trump amid controversy like the ongoing investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. As Donald Trump Jr. reminded a crowd in Orlando last week, “Ron DeSantis was there from Day 1. He got it. He saw it. He went on TV. He was with us when it wasn’t cool to be with us.”

DeSantis will face Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam in the Aug. 28 primary. Putnam, a longtime Florida politician, has raised more than $35 million for his gubernatorial bid and until recently was considered a frontrunner. DeSantis has raised a little more than $13 million.

Trump’s recent intervention in the race, dating back to his June tweet, was followed by gains in DeSantis’ favorability. A poll published last week put DeSantis 20 points ahead of Putnam. A Florida Chamber poll published Friday put the two at a “virtual tie.”

Across party lines, some already see Trump’s planned appearance as a death blow to Putnam’s campaign.

“Our condolences to Adam Putnam,” Florida Democratic Party spokesman Kevin Donohoe said in a prepared statement.

Trump also will express his support for Gov. Rick Scott‘s bid for U.S. Senate, and U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz‘ reelection.