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Former President Donald Trump appeared to suggest on Saturday that recent positive polling for Republican Senator Marco Rubio was due to his decision to rally in Florida next weekend.
Trump made the suggestion in a post on his Truth Social media platform ahead of his appearance with Rubio at an event on November 6, which will not feature Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.
"Wow, Senator Marco Rubio has taken an 11 point lead in his run against a weak on crime Radical Left Impeacher, someone who is incapable of doing the job that needs to be done, since we announced the Big Rally for him on the following Sunday (November 6th) in Miami," Trump wrote.
He was referring to Rubio's Democratic opponent, Representative Val Demings, who is challenging the senator as he seeks a third term.
Former President Trump added: "He deserves to win, and win BIG. See you at the Rally!!!"
Trump was likely referring to a recent poll conducted by the University of North Florida which found Rubio had 54 percent support to Demings' 43 percent - a lead of 11 points.
The survey was conducted from October 17 to 24 among 622 likely voters and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percent.
Other recent polling also points to a Rubio victory, with a Data for Progress poll conducted from October 19 to 23 among 1,251 likely voters showing the Republican leading with 51 percent support to Demings' 44 percent - a lead of 7 points.
Poll tracker FiveThirtyEight rates Rubio as "clearly favored" to win the Florida Senate race and gives him a 93 percent chance of victory compared to just 7 percent for his Democratic opponent.
Newsweek has asked the Rubio campaign for comment.
It is difficult to know to what extent, if any, Trump's support has boosted Rubio's chances of winning re-election but the former president will attend a rally at Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition on November 6 - just two days before the crucial midterm elections.
The rally is a potential source of tension among Florida Republicans, however, as Politico reported this week that Governor DeSantis will not be there and was not made aware of it.
DeSantis is running for re-election as governor and is seen as a possible future Republican presidential candidate. One person close to the governor told Politico that Trump holding a rally for Rubio is like "an elbow to Ron's throat."
There has been speculation for months that Trump is displeased with DeSantis as the Florida governor has continued to be the focus of questions about a future presidential bid.
"Trump likely feels betrayed by a candidate he thinks isn't grateful enough for the 2018 support. DeSantis doesn't feel a lifetime of indebtedness is warranted for a single endorsement. And, they both know each of them are their biggest threat to the GOP nomination," Michael Binder, a professor of political science at the University of North Florida, told Newsweek earlier this week.
Nonetheless, DeSantis appears on track for re-election, with FiveThirtyEight giving him a 97 percent chance of victory over his Democratic opponent, former Representative Charlie Crist.
About the writer
Darragh Roche is a U.S. News Reporter based in Limerick, Ireland. His focus is reporting on U.S. politics. He has ... Read more