In February of 2009, I declared the Florida Senate race between [mc_name name=’Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’R000595′ ] and Charlie Crist a “hill to die on.” Rubio was at three percent in the polls. Charlie Crist was the sitting Republican Governor of Florida. And the entire weight of the Republican Party was behind Crist.

[mc_name name=’Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’C001056′ ] and the National Republican Senatorial Committee and most major Washington lobbyists were for Crist. Staff from [mc_name name=’Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’M000355′ ]’s office had gone to Florida to help him. Rubio was struggling for money, had low name ID, and was barely more than a statistical anomaly in the polls. But he was the right guy for Florida.

And Rubio won.

This year, [mc_name name=’Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’R000595′ ] is running for President of the United States with the highest favorability of any candidate running for President from either party. His Senate seat is open. It is being contested by several members of Congress and others. This is a seat we can win again.

Congressman [mc_name name=’Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL)’ chamber=’house’ mcid=’D000621′ ] is running for the United States Senate now. I have invited him to speak at the RedState Gathering. He is in his second term in Congress and has proven himself to be a conservative leader. He is pro-life and has repeatedly shown his willingness to buck the establishment to fight for more responsible, smaller government.

DeSantis enters a crowded field of several good candidates. The race is not quite like the Rubio v. Crist race. For one thing, in the latest polling, Ron and several of the other candidates are clustered together in the middle with the Lt. Governor at 10% and Ron at 9%.

The man in the lead is [mc_name name=’Rep. David Jolly (R-FL)’ chamber=’house’ mcid=’J000296′ ] at 16%. [mc_name name=’Rep. David Jolly (R-FL)’ chamber=’house’ mcid=’J000296′ ] was one of the few Republicans in Washington to vote in favor of Washington, D.C.’s abortion mandate that targets religious institutions. He also, perversely, voted against [mc_name name=’Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)’ chamber=’house’ mcid=’R000570′ ]’s budget on the grounds that it was too conservative. Ryan’s budget dared to rein in medicare spending.

[mc_name name=’Rep. David Jolly (R-FL)’ chamber=’house’ mcid=’J000296′ ] has refused to defund Planned Parenthood and he has refused to fight for protections of religious institutions against social justice warriors. He has refused serious budget reform and refused to rein in public spending. He is unacceptable.

[mc_name name=’Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL)’ chamber=’house’ mcid=’D000621′ ], meanwhile, has been a real fighter for religious protections, governmental reforms, spending reforms, and smaller government. Supporting Ron in his own right is a no brainer. Supporting him over [mc_name name=’Rep. David Jolly (R-FL)’ chamber=’house’ mcid=’J000296′ ] makes a ton of sense.

If you are coming to the RedState Gathering in August, you’ll be able to meet Ron yourself. Otherwise, go to his website. And if you want to send some money his way, he could use it to get his race off the ground.