And the winner of the debate DeSantis vs Putnam? Asset!

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and Adam Putnam clashed in a nationwide televised debate Thursday, and Donald Trump was the star of the series

"I'm looking forward to campaign with him as governor of Florida, "said the Commissioner of Agriculture, firing a quick reprimand from DeSantis.

"This would be the first time that he was campaigning with him because Donald Trump was trying to win Florida in 2016, Adam Putnam did not attend a single rally with him," DeSantis said. . "You could not find Adam Putnam if you had a search warrant."

Trump remains extremely popular among Republican primary voters, and he came back again and again during the hourly debate broadcast on Fox News

DeSantis mentioned Trump by his name 21 Once, Putnam mentioned it five times

Both candidates delivered confident and energetic performances without any reluctance to criticize each other. A turbulent crowd of 1,000 Florida GOP activists often cheered so loudly that moderators Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier struggled to be heard.

Putnam, 43, took a photo of DeSantis, 39, to appear constantly on Fox News and only sporadically on the Florida election campaign.

"It's completely different from a Washington DC studio," Putnam said about the Florida event. DeSantis retorted that he wanted to be able to spend more time in Florida rather than fulfilling his responsibilities – especially when he missed Christmases with his family in 2006 and 2007 as the JAG officer at Guantanamo Bay while serving in Guantanamo.

The stakes Thursday night were particularly high for DeSantis who lacks time to overtake the favorite Putnam.

Election officials start sending ballots in four weeks – two weeks for foreign voters – and several polls show However, nearly one in four Republicans remains undecided according to recent surveys, and DeSantis used the national TV forum to throw Putnam as low on immigration and part of the political as usual crowd. Putnam has spent the last 22 years in the elections.

The Republican of Palm Bay has repeatedly noted that Putnam supported the controversial immigration bill "Gang of Eight" and opposed an "E-Verify" program.

"He will not do it because the Big Ag donors who finance his campaign want cheap labor," said DeSantis

Putnam, of Bartow, falsely accusing DeSantis of supporting social well-being.

As Trump's subject returned, Putnam deviated with his campaign mantra: Florida First.

"I care more about schools in Washington County than what happens in Washington, DC. about what's going on in Ruskin, Florida, with congestion and infrastructure and the quality of our water than what I'm doing on what's happening in Russia, "Putnam said." I m & # 39; St. Petersburg – St. Petersburg, Florida "

Both candidates extolled their commitment to fight gun control, and Putnam defended his agency's record which included 291. Ineligible.

"When I learned that we had an employee who was not doing this job, I held them responsible," he said. "The Floridians are safe, those who have abandoned us are no longer in our department and I have held them accountable, that's what the leaders do. "

DeSantis replied," He did not act as a leader. It was discovered by the media, "referring to a history of Tampa Bay Times that reported the slip to Putnam's office.

DeSantis noted that Putnam did not say to Rick Scott, who was surprised "

" You have to upgrade with the electorate and not try to hide it, "he said.

Fox News moderators polled candidates about Various conservative questions but posed few Florida-specific questions .. Candidates were not asked about state education or about the environment, two topics frequently discussed by Democratic candidates, or taxes and jobs, the top human priorities that they want to replace, Governor Rick Scott

DeSantis said that he has assurances from the House White as the antagonistic rhetoric of Trump towards Am's trading partners It was strategic and it does not expect higher rates to be a long-term strategy. "Donald Trump writes the Art of the Deal.He knows how to negotiate," DeSantis said. "I think we should give him a chance to do his thing."

Putnam said he was Encouraged by the prospect of a trade war, accusing China and Mexico of hurting Florida farmers and breeders.

Laying blame for the current state of American civility at the feet of the president who As a candidate, he encouraged the crowds to denigrate protesters and to give derogatory nicknames to his political opponents, including US Senator Marco Rubio.The Sunshine Summit continues on Friday with speeches for all the main candidates in the polls. State and assorted Republican experts, advocates and celebrities, including Matt Schlapp of the American Conservative Union, Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, and the Filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza

The only other Republican debate scheduled at this time is for August 8, the leading Democratic nominees vying for the governorship include Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum. former US representative Gwen Graham of Tallahassee, investor and former US Senate candidate Jeff Greene of Palm Beach, promoter Chris King of Winter Park, and investor and former Mayor of Miami Beach Philip Levine

The primary is August 28th.

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Adam Putnam wants to know: "Where is Ron?"

Times personal writer Emily L. Mahoney contributed to this story.