Francis Suarez rips Ron DeSantis: ‘Not a relationship guy’

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez is new to the presidential race, but is rehashing familiar critiques of Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Suarez, the third Florida man in the field along with the Governor and Donald Trump, told “Fox & Friends” DeSantis was “not a relationship guy” and that’s why Florida’s congressional delegation largely backs the former President.

“You know, the Governor is not particularly a relationship guy,” Suarez said. “He doesn’t have, from what I understand, a great relationship with a lot of our federal elected officials. That is why he lost, I think, 12 out of 13 (congressional) endorsements in his own state because he doesn’t call people, doesn’t try to build a relationship.”

Suarez won’t have those endorsements either, but stressed his people skills in comparison to DeSantis.

“You know, I’m very different. Like I said, I’m accessible. I call people. I’m a people person. I love people and I look at them in the eye and shake their hands, you know, when I see them. So, that’s never been an issue for me.”

Suarez made similar points before he formally entered the presidential fray.

“He seems to struggle with relationships, generally,” Suarez said April 20 on “Fox & Friends.”

“You had mentioned earlier in the program that he doesn’t get along with the (former) Governor,” Suarez said, referring to U.S. Sen. Rick Scott.

Scott has routinely complained that DeSantis hasn’t returned his calls over the years, despite possible help the current Governor could get from the Senate.

Suarez also contended DeSantis doesn’t even bother to buttonhole endorsers.

“He wasn’t even calling people personally,” Suarez said. “His fundraiser or pollster was the one that was calling congressional leaders for support.”