As the gubernatorial campaign of Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam moves forward, the former Republican front-runner finds his operation in the awkward position of warring with prominent elements on the right.
Wednesday, Putnam’s camp spotlighted U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis garnering support from the Koch brothers.
Hours before President Donald Trump‘s rally supporting DeSantis’ campaign in Tampa, Trump blasted the “globalist” Kochs, saying he didn’t “need their money or bad ideas.”
The globalist Koch Brothers, who have become a total joke in real Republican circles, are against Strong Borders and Powerful Trade. I never sought their support because I don’t need their money or bad ideas. They love my Tax & Regulation Cuts, Judicial picks & more. I made…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2018
….them richer. Their network is highly overrated, I have beaten them at every turn. They want to protect their companies outside the U.S. from being taxed, I’m for America First & the American Worker – a puppet for no one. Two nice guys with bad ideas. Make America Great Again!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2018
DeSantis, who worked hard for the Kochs’ backing even before getting into the governor’s race, has been endorsed and is benefiting from direct mail against Adam Putnam.
Putnam’s camp wondered: “Is DeSantis happy to accept millions from people against strengthening our borders and negotiating powerful trade deals?”
Contacted for comment, DeSantis’ campaign manager Brad Herold noted that “[u]nlike Amnesty Adam we’re in the stage of the campaign where people are joining it, not leaving it.”
That comment is a reference to reporting from multiple sources suggesting that enthusiasm is flagging among Putnam supporters, many of whom got in early, when Putnam was the prohibitive front-runner in polls.
At a private Orlando fundraiser on Monday for Putnam, 11 people were invited, only 6 showed up. https://t.co/ymyREwS1kr
— Christopher Heath (@CHeathWFTV) August 1, 2018
It was only last week that Putnam went on the offense against DeSantis’ support of the Fair Tax, which would phase out the federal income tax structure and replace it with a simple excise tax on all purchases.
Though considered a regressive measure by some economists and analysts, even on the right, the attack was most notable for inviting active antagonism from Neal Boortz, the conservative talk radio host who has long championed the proposal.
Putnam seems to be evading Boortz, even after days of attempts at dialogue from the “talkmaster.”
I have contacted the Adam Putnam campaign in Fl. regarding the blatant falsehoods about the FairTax in a TV ad supporting him. Let’s see if they respond. @adamputnam @AdamPutnamNews
— Neal Boortz (@Talkmaster) July 31, 2018
Thus far the Adam Putnam campaign has refused to talk to me about the blatantly false ads regarding the FairTax being run by a surrogate. @adamputnam
— Neal Boortz (@Talkmaster) July 31, 2018
@adamputnam If you are having trouble understanding the FairTax perhaps you ought to contact me. I wrote the book.
— Neal Boortz (@Talkmaster) July 26, 2018
