The fact that Gov. Ron DeSantis hasn’t endorsed Lt. Gov. Jay Collins to replace him isn’t stopping the Tampa Republican from tethering his 2026 campaign for Governor to the incumbent.
“There’s no bullpen for warming up to be a Governor. You’ve got to be ready,” Collins said on the “Liberty Sentinel” podcast.
“When you get in the seat, the time is now. And I’m grateful for his support. Grateful for what (he’s) done, and moving his legacy forward would be a privilege and honor.”
DeSantis has refused to endorse Collins even though he’s been asked point-blank when or if he intends to do so on more than one occasion.
Collins again said in this latest interview that he was “handpicked” by DeSantis, implying that the appointment implied an endorsement.
“And when he appointed me, he said, ‘Look, if something were to happen to me, Jay Collins can step in and leave this state now. He is Day 1 ready. No questions,’” Collins related.
As we’ve noted before, Collins continues to struggle with the question of why the man who made him a statewide political figure has left him to fend for himself, dishing out praise as a way to dodge the central failure to earn DeSantis’ backing.
“When someone like Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been the greatest Governor in our state’s history, in my mind, says, ‘If something were to happen to me’ — and this is the day I was appointed — ‘the state would be ready because Jay is Day 1 ready. He would step in. We wouldn’t lose a beat, nothing. He is ready to lead now,’ that’s a big statement. You know, when he says that, I think people should take a step back and listen to the words he’s using,” he said earlier this month.
Nearly two months ago, Collins said there was a “great chance” DeSantis endorses him if his campaign keeps “moving forward.” With less than three months to go until the Primary, it appears less likely all the time.
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