EXCLUSIVE — Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) will have a large group of prominent supporters at the Republican National Committee's first primary debate on Wednesday night.
Among a long list of DeSantis surrogates headed to Milwaukee to stump for the Florida governor are Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Rich McCormick (R-GA), Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK), and Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez.
REPUBLICAN DEBATE: CAN THE DEBATES HELP WINNOW THE GOP FIELD?
Asked what he hopes to accomplish attending the debate in support of DeSantis, Roy put it simply: "Win."
Fox News is broadcasting the debate, and DeSantis's campaign will be sending both Roy and Stitt to the network's post-debate "spin room."
Several others are descending on the city for the event as part of the DeSantis campaign's effort to boost its surrogate operation.
The campaign has been working with surrogates and media to facilitate hits on both television and radio for various spokespeople, including endorsers, campaign advisers, contributors, and staff.
This comes as DeSantis himself has ramped up his media presence, doing nearly 70 interviews, press conferences, and gaggles since July 18. His elevated media operation was ushered in by his CNN interview with Jake Tapper, which was an apparent departure from his initial media strategy.
Several Florida, Iowa, and South Carolina state lawmakers will also swarm the Fiserv Forum arena on behalf of DeSantis's 2024 effort.
From Florida, state Sens. Jay Collins and Blaise Ingoglia and state Rep. Kiyan Michael, whose child was killed by an illegal immigrant, will attend. Iowa state Sens. Jesse Green, Dan Zumbach, Adrian Dickey, and Jeff Reichman, who recently flipped his endorsement from former President Donald Trump to DeSantis, will also be there, alongside Iowa House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl and State Rep. Matt Rinker. South Carolinians state Reps. Travis Moore and Micah Caskey and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell are also headed to Wisconsin for the debate.
Iowa's Reichman switched his endorsement earlier this summer after Trump publicized a feud between himself and Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA), saying in a subsequent op-ed, "Governor Reynolds has done an outstanding job in Iowa, and former President Trump should be supportive of successful fellow Republicans."
He also claimed, "When I look at Governor DeSantis, I see many of the qualities that I admire in Governor Reynolds." DeSantis has maintained a good relationship with the Iowa governor, drawing a contrast with Trump, who has taken credit for her election.
Two additional surrogates attending the debate in support of DeSantis are former Trump officials. Former senior adviser in the Trump and George W. Bush administrations, Christian Whiton, will attend, as well as former special assistant to Trump and chief of staff at the National Security Council, Alex Gray.
Former Florida Sen. George LeMieux and Former Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva, the co-founder of a cigar business who was recently revealed to be joining the DeSantis campaign as a senior adviser, are two others planning to support the Florida governor during the debate.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Also attending the debate on DeSantis's behalf are donors Hal Lambert, the Point Bridge Capital founder and CEO, and Disruptor Capital Founder and CEO Pete Synder. CEOs of Canary, LLC and Digibuild are additionally headed to Milwaukee.
Prominent surrogates for Trump are also descending on the city despite the fact that Trump won't be participating in the debate. However, a reported memo from Fox News has restricted the all-important media "spin room" to aides of candidates that are attending the debate. Others will be granted entry if they guests of media organizations, according to Axios. This will make it more difficult for those supporting Trump, such as Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Mike Waltz (R-FL), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), and former Republican gubernatorial candidate in Arizona Kari Lake, to gain access to the media center.