The shadow campaign continues.
Months after first teasing a run for Governor, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins hasn’t launched a campaign.
But despite his indecision, advertising continues to promote him as if he’s already made it official.
Mail from the Florida Fighter group is circulating this weekend, including to Jacksonville Republicans, promoting the former state Senator from Tampa as a “wounded warrior, proven conservative” who has “delivered conservative wins” and is “standing with” Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The group’s documented television buys are approaching $3 million at last check, and that’s without knowing who or what is buying ads.
The mail urges recipients to call Collins and “thank” him. The call is answered by an automated voice: “The Lieutenant Governor is not answering. This mailbox is full.”
Collins has praised the third-party effort on his behalf.
“I’m very grateful for whatever group that was that put those out there. … We are in this short, final part of wrapping up our decision, and I’m very grateful for that group. It’s very encouraging to see people believe in our message and our approach,” he said at a press conference last month.
Collins especially appreciates the air cover since he sees himself as an alternative to “politicians who pat themselves on the back and put their ego first,” a seeming allusion to U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, who had more than $31 million banked as of the end of September.
Collins has struggled in public polls of the still-nascent Republican field to succeed DeSantis.
Collins is at 1% in a poll from Victory Insights and at 4% in a survey from St. Pete Polls.
