Congressman and Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds (R-FL) responded to his reluctancy to debate his Republican opponents ahead of the primary by referring to his large lead in the polls during an interview with Fox News Digital this week.
"I've been consistent. These guys are in single digits. They stay in single digits. Poll came out today. They're down 40 points," Donalds said. "You know, it's not my pollster. It's actually the pollster that has done a lot of work for Governor DeSantis. So, they should spend their time going to see the people of Florida because they're not getting much support at all."
The poll Rep. Donalds was likely referring to shows the gubernatorial hopeful with a nearly 40-point edge over Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, and more than 40 points ahead of businessman James Fishback and former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner for the nomination.
Rep. Donalds was also asked about a recent heated altercation between supporters of James Fishback and the Collier County Republican Executive Committee in which punches were almost thrown. Fishback, a controversial candidate whose credibility, as well as his eligibility to run for Florida governor, is under the microscope, and he has repeatedly insulted Donalds on the campaign trail with racial attacks.
"Another stunt, another stunt with people trying to get attention, as opposed to you know taking their mission, their vision, their ideas to the people in Florida to earn support," Donalds said in a response to the incident. "And so, I'm not going to play with stunts. I'm not going to engage in that stuff. We've been focused on the voters. We've knocked over 200,000 doors already. Polling wise, we're somewhere between 48 and 54. So with 36 days to go. Well, 35 after today, we're in really good position. We take nothing for granted. So just keep working."
The primary is Aug. 18.
