Trump is courting DeSantis-supporting Florida lawmakers ahead of debate: report

Gov. Ron DeSantis' Florida fiefdom is being flipped to switch favor for former President Donald Trump, according to an NBC News report.

He may be the popular governor of Florida but Trump is planning steal all the political sunshine.

An effort is already underway to aggressively sway Republican lawmakers — as many as six by next week — from backing DeSantis to formally coming forward to pledge their endorsement to the 45th president, according to two sources who spoke with the outlet.

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While the specifics of Trump's infiltration into DeSantis' base of influential lawmakers, but the sources told NBC News that the aim is to turn them in time before next Wednesday's Republican presidential debate in Miami.

“It’s coming,” said the source privy to the moves taking place in the state. “Exact number not yet said, but it will be close to 10.”

The count is "at least five" going to Trump, a Florida Republican lobbyist told the network, who has heard about the effort but not directly involved in the jockeying.

"There is no doubt that there are more coming next week," he said.

The tectonic shift in the state comes as Trump remains the comfortable frontrunner in the 2024 Republican primary campaign.

Just last week, staunch DeSantis supporter State Rep. Randy Fine bailed on him in favor of Trump.

The efforts to win over DeSantis loyal appears to be aiming to boast the news sooner than the debate.

The story suggests that the Trump campaign is hoping to showcase the switching of loyalties to the former president by Saturday, when the Florida Freedom Summit gets underway and will draw GOP candidates to Kissimmee, Florida to stump.

“DeSantis won’t be the hero in the room,” former Republican congressman from St. Petersburg and co-founder of the Forward Party David Jolly told the Orlando Sentinel. “That’s an unusual feeling for the Florida governor … But Donald Trump is the pick of Republicans, and that includes Florida Republicans."

"And Ron DeSantis knows that. Whether he’s accepted that or not, it’s just a matter of time.”