Florida's Putnam: DeSantis Too Focused on Washington

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam, who is squaring off against Rep. Ron DeSantis for the state governor's seat, said Friday he is putting his own state first, while DeSantis is more focused on Washington D.C.

His comments follow a heated Fox News debate in Florida Thursday night, where the two Republicans squared off to debate not only Florida issues, but their levels of support for President Donald Trump, who has endorsed DeSantis in the race.

"I thought it was a great debate and I was very pleased to be a part of it with a lot of energized, enthusiastic conservative Florida Republicans," Putnam told Fox News' "America's Newsroom." "I think the debate reflected two very different approaches to this campaign. The congressman's approach sounds like he is running for the Senate."

Putnam, though, said his approach is to put Florida's "problems and Florida's solutions, economy and families" first. "That's what the governor will have to focus on in the third-largest state in the United States."

Thursday night and Friday morning, DeSantis said he's done more in Congress in five years than Putnam did in 10, and complained that the secretary "does the bidding" of his donors.

"Well look, he is never in Florida and that's why he is trying to do a little political tactics on us," Putnam said in response. "I can get around our state without a GPS or map, unlike the other candidates. I know big cities and small towns and put out plans to deal with Florida's opioid crisis, better jobs in Florida, vocational and technical training into Florida schools and support our community colleges that will help us rebuild the middle class and diversify our economy."

He said he is also "proud to have the support of 45 sheriffs in Florida who know that I'm the best candidate to keep Floridians safe. That includes the congressman's own sheriff."

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