Rubio, DeSantis team up after Demings advances in Senate race

On Wednesday, Governor DeSantis and Senator Marco Rubio teamed up just hours after Rubio’s biggest threat for his Senate seat, Democrat Val Demings, moved forward in the primary.

Senator Rubio was right at Governor DeSantis’ side as they crisscrossed the state on Wednesday, calling their trip the ‘Keep Florida free tour.’

“Joe Biden is the worst president of my lifetime,” said DeSantis in Orlando on Wednesday.

The governor knows what his supporters want to hear, and he delivers. It didn’t take long for him to get to one of his favorite subjects, Doctor Anthony Fauci.

“Someone needs to grab that little elf and chuck him across the Potomac,” said DeSantis.

Rubio did not address the crowd in Orlando, but Kevin Wagner, a political science professor at Florida Atlantic University, said just being at the same rally and being seen with DeSantis can only help Rubio’s struggling re-election campaign.

“The governor is extremely popular with the Republican base, and Rubio’s you know, Rubio’s popularity, even the state of Florida has had some variations to it,” said Wagner.

Right now, Rubio’s Democratic challenger Val Demings is raising more money than he is and rising rapidly in the polls.

Wagner believes with DeSantis on his side, Rubio will rally. “I still think that Senator Rubio and Governor DeSantis are both are both favorites at this point.”

Wagner said turnout in the primary wasn’t as good as Democrats hoped it might be. He doesn’t think DeSantis, and by extension Rubio, will have to worry about republicans going to the polls come November.

“Fundamentally, these elections are less about persuasion and more about energy and turnout,” said Wagner.

Elections are also about money, and DeSantis has lots of it. A reported $130 million in the bank. Crist can’t touch that. He kicked off his campaign in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, ripping into Governor DeSantis, calling him divisive and a bully, and despite his cash disadvantage, predicted victory.