Businessman Donald Trump signaled this week that he intends to take his Republican presidential campaign to Florida, home state of two of his main rivals: former Gov. Jeb Bush and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. Trump is leading the national polls and surveys of key states, including Florida.
On Friday, Trump announced that he was naming Karen Giorno to lead his efforts in the Sunshine State. Trump owns properties and occasionally resides in Florida.
Trump has turned to a political veteran of more than 25 years to head up his team in the Sunshine State. The founder of Kingston Public Affairs, Giorno has ties to Florida, having worked as Gov. Rick Scott’s director of external affairs. Giorno has also served as Florida director of conservative group American Commitment. Before that, she worked for Meg Whitman’s gubernatorial campaign in California and in President George W. Bush’s administration, handling scheduling, advance work and other matters for the president and First Lady Laura Bush.
"We are in this to win it,” Trump said on Friday as he also named Corbin Casteel to lead his team in Texas while Michael Rubino will lead his efforts in Virginia. “These staff additions are the continuation of our plan to have a strategic and significant presence across the country. I am pleased that my vision to ‘Make America Great Again’ has generated so much support and such a positive response that we are leading in all the polls. By adding to our team in these critical states we will be able to build on the tremendous support we have received and share our message with even more voters in these states.
“I look forward to being in these states even more as I continue to share my ideas about how to put America back on top!" Trump added.
Trump showed other signs this week that he intends to fight for the Sunshine State in the March 15 primary. On Thursday, the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) announced that Trump and former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., will be attending the Sunshine Summit in Orlando next month. Like Trump, Huckabee has ties to Florida, having moved to the Panhandle following his 2008 presidential campaign. On Tuesday, the RPOF announced that Bush, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., and Rubio will be attending the event.
"I am excited to welcome Mr. Trump and Gov. Huckabee to the growing list of presidential candidates speaking at the Sunshine Summit in Orlando,” said state Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, chairman of the RPOF, on Thursday. “The road to the White House goes through Florida, and our grassroots leaders and volunteers are ready to hear the candidates share their vision for the future of our nation."
While the Sunshine Summit doesn’t have the high-profile straw poll of past RPOF presidency events, the stakes are high. Last week, the RPOF voted on a new rule ensuring GOP presidential hopefuls can appear on March's presidential primary ballot by appearing at the Sunshine Summit, paying a fee or filing a petition and gathering signatures to make the ballot.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
