“Special guest” U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is at the top of a line-up of Republicans from every corner of the state coming to Miami Sunday for President Donald Trump’s official blessing.
Rubio famously feuded with Trump in 2015 when they were both running for President. But now, he and a slew of state pols are coming to be a part of what they hope will be a continuation of Trump’s winning endorsements for office in the Sunshine State.
“President Trump delivered a historic red wave for Florida in the 2018 midterms with his slate of endorsed candidates up and down the ballot and molded the Sunshine State into the MAGA stronghold it is today,” says a news release announcing the lineup that also notes that Trump has 19 wins and zero losses for his Sunshine State endorsements.
“Thanks to President Trump, Florida is no longer a purple state; it’s an America First Red State,” the release says.
Notably absent, however, is Trump’s biggest and most successful endorsement from the 2018 Midterms — Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Around the time Rubio is scheduled to deliver his remarks, DeSantis’ schedule shows him in the Sun City Center Community Hall. Then, around the time former President Trump is scheduled to speak, DeSantis will be appearing with Parker McCollum, a country singer-songwriter, at the Alico Arena in Fort Myers.
The split-screen events have ignited talk that the rivalry between Trump and DeSantis — both eyeing a presidential run — is about to burst into full view.
Republican Party Chairman and Sen. Joe Gruters is scheduled to be in Miami on Sunday, making it likely he’ll miss DeSantis’ scheduled stop in Gruters’ home base, in Sarasota County. DeSantis is scheduled to be at the Universal Flight Training in East Sarasota in the early evening.
Other Republicans lined up to talk at Sunday’s event that Trump’s Save America PAC have announced are:
— Sen. Rick Scott;
— Sen. Wilton Simpson, nominee for Agriculture Commissioner;
— Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, up for re-election in Florida’s 26th Congressional District;
— Rep. Vern Buchanan, up for re-election in Florida’s 16th Congressional District;
— Rep. Matt Gaetz, up for re-election in Florida’s 1st Congressional District;
— Rep. Michael Waltz, up for re-election in Florida’s 6th Congressional District;
— Rep. Kat Cammack, up for re-election in Florida’s 3rd Congressional District;
— Rep. Byron Donalds, up for re-election in Florida’s 19th Congressional District;
— Rep. Carlos Gimenez, up for re-election in Florida’s 28th Congressional District;
— Cory Mills, the nominee for Florida’s 7th Congressional District; and
— Anna Paulina-Luna, the nominee for U.S. Representative for Florida’s 13th Congressional District
Hialeah Mayor Esteban Bovo, is not there for the endorsement — he won his election last year. But he’ll also be speaking at the invitation from Trump’s people. He said he’s not even going to write a speech when he takes the stage at the Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition.
“I usually speak from the heart,” he said. “You get the crowd fired up to make sure if they haven’t voted, then they are going out to vote and they’re bringing their friends along with themselves.”
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