Down in public opinion surveys and fundraising, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins says he still sees a way forward in the race for Governor.

“We are not suspending our campaign,” Collins said, noting that instead his team will procure an “initial seven-figure statewide media buy.” (That buy, which focuses on his personal history, is paid for by his Quiet Professionals FL political committee.)

The Tampa Republican made the comments after weeks in which he has complained about “suppression polls” and the “lobby corps” being against him.

Collins said he has “heard a lot of conversation about the stakes of this campaign, the future of my campaign, from experts, X accounts, and, of course, the pay-to-play media.” Despite all that, he said he is staying in because the stakes are so high for the state.

He also went on the attack against front-runner Byron Donalds, arguing the Congressman from Naples isn’t electable in November.

“I wish this race was simply about the issues. I wish we could have a straightforward conversation about policy and the future of this state,” Collins added Monday.

“But there is too much at stake to ignore the reality of what’s in front of us. Because this race is not about just who can win the Primary, who has the most money or the most endorsements. It’s about who can win the General Election. It’s about who will be the next Governor of the great state of Florida.”

Picking up a rhetorical baton from fellow struggling candidate Paul Renner, who made the same argument last week, Collins said “polling indicates the serious risk of David Jolly becoming the next Governor of Florida, if Byron is the Republican nominee.”

Collins suggested character issues with Donalds would be ultimately disqualifying.

While Collins is in the race for now, his campaign is facing issues. His less than $2 million raised is largely derived from a single donor, he’s at single digits in every credible poll, and he can’t get Gov. Ron DeSantis to endorse him, despite months of publicly supportive comments about the man who appointed Collins to his current role.

Asked about that lack of endorsement Monday, Collins said he’d keep “private conversations” with DeSantis off the record, but that each man has the other’s back.

Donalds has nearly 50% support in most GOP Primary polls and is on a record fundraising pace for any gubernatorial candidate in the state’s history.

For his part, Jolly responded to Collins as follows.

“We are building a coalition of Democrats, independents, and Republicans, ready to change the direction of Florida. My Republican friends are having a hard family conversation right now, and I welcome the November contest against whomever they choose to nominate.”

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