Five Republican legislators in Florida have switched their endorsements from the rightwing governor, Ron DeSantis, to former US president Donald Trump before a key party nomination debate in Miami next week.
The move is another boost to Trump – who remains dominant in the 2024 Republican race – and a blow to DeSantis, whose once highly anticipated bid for the White House has recently floundered badly. Recent polling has shown Trump with a strong lead over his rivals and DeSantis being edged out of second place by the former US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.