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Former President Donald Trump kicked off a rally here on Sunday evening by urging voters to support Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Election Day, despite having just christened the governor with a new nickname.
Trump took the stage at the Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition calling for the crowd to « reelect Ron DeSantis as your governor. » The night before, Trump mocked DeSantis directly and publicly as « Ron DeSanctimonious » at a rally in Pennsylvania while talking about Republicans who might enter the 2024 presidential primary.
Trump’s rally on Sunday — just two days before Election Day — was primarily aimed at supporting Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida for a third term, though numerous other top Florida Republicans were present, including Sen. Rick Scott, as well as Reps. Byron Donalds and Matt Gaetz, and top state officials.
DeSantis wasn’t included. The governor instead held three campaign events of his own on the opposite coast of the state. He did not mention Trump in his speeches and instead focused on touting his accomplishments as governor.
DeSantis, 44, has been polling second to Trump in a hypothetical 2024 GOP presidential primary.
