Putnam ‘I am focused on Fla.’

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam went on Fox News on Wednesday trying to tamp down enthusiasm for U.S. Rep Ron DeSantis, his opponent for Florida governor in the GOP primary.

Putnam made the appearance on the network a day after President Donald Trump rallied for DeSantis in Tampa and declared that DeSantis would be the state’s next governor.

Asked why Trump decided to endorse DeSantis over him even though both are conservative Republicans, Putnam suggested it was all about Washington politics.

“Congressman DeSantis is certainly very comfortable with the ways of Washington,’’ he said. “But I’m focused on Florida.’’

Later, Putnam insisted that he supports Trump just as much as DeSantis does, but added, “If we are going to Make America Great Again, we have to make sure our third largest state is doing our part.”

DeSantis has been one of the president’s biggest defenders in Washington throughout the Russian influence investigation and a regular guest on Fox News.

The most recent polls have DeSantis with a comfortable lead over Putnam heading into the Aug. 28 primary, a flip of earlier this year when Putnam, a long-established Florida politician, was well ahead of DeSantis.

But Putnam remains undaunted.