SiriusXM host Stephen A. Smith calls Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., "the real deal" and reveals that they speak "all the time off the record."
ESPN host Stephen A. Smith said Thursday that Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., could make him a Republican, praising the Trump-backed gubernatorial frontrunner days before Florida Republicans choose their nominee to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis.
"And I ain't no d— Republican. But that mean if anybody could make me one, it would be him. I'm just going to keep it a buck. I'm just letting you know," Smith said.
"He's the real deal. Make no mistake about it. I've seen him battling with Democrats. I've seen him battling with people on different shows, whatever. He ain't backing up. He knows his stuff. OK? I talk to him all the time. All the time. And I ain't got nothing bad to say about him," he added.
A Donalds campaign official confirmed to Fox News Digital on Friday that Smith and Donalds are friends. Campaign communications director Gates McGavick said Donalds was attracting voters across demographic groups by focusing on affordability and public safety.
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., is the frontrunner to capture the GOP Florida gubernatorial nomination. (Al Diaz/Getty Images)
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"Byron Donalds is drawing support from Floridians of all backgrounds because he has a clear vision to make Florida more affordable, keep Floridians safe, and make sure the radical left stays out of the Sunshine State," McGavick said. "He is building a broad coalition that puts common sense over crazy to lead Florida into the future."
One GOP source's assessment provided to Fox News Digital on Friday focused on President Donald Trump's endorsement.
"Donalds is endorsed by POTUS and we fully expect him to win the primary," the source said.
A James Madison Institute poll released Aug. 6 placed Donalds at 49% among likely Republican primary voters, 31 points ahead of Lt. Gov. Jay Collins. Donalds' campaign had raised more than $90 million, as he faced Collins, former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and investor James Fishback, while DeSantis withheld an endorsement of any candidate.
Stephen A. Smith pressed Donalds on whether his close alliance with Trump could make Black voters skeptical of his candidacy. (Getty Images)
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Smith described himself as skeptical of Democrats while pressing Donalds on Black voters' distrust of Trump and concerns about Donalds' close alignment with the president
"You heard me ask that question [what have Democrats done for you]. I ain't apologizing for it. I'm very skeptical about them," Smith said.
