TAMPA, Fla. — The Republicans running to defeat St. Petersburg Democratic U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist say that they’d be happy to campaign with President Donald Trump at their side this fall.

Candidates Sheila Griffin, Sharon Newby, George Buck, and Amanda Makki all expressed their support for Trump and the job he's done while in office during a virtual Suncoast Tiger Bay forum on Wednesday.

“I would love to campaign with Donald Trump,” said Griffin, the president of the Suncoast Black Republican Club.

“He’s wonderful,” said Newby, a Clearwater businesswoman. “Can you think of any other person in this country that could have withstood what he has been subjected to for the last three years and still be standing?" 

“I stand with him. I give him an A plus,” said Buck, who ran unsuccessfully against Crist in 2018. “I think Trump is doing a fabulous job with the economy, the jobs, and it’s coming back already. Just look at the stock market.”

“He’s really done an incredible job,” added Makki, a former Capitol Hill staffer and attorney. “People here really appreciate everything that Donald Trump has done and people will tell you that.”

Though Pinellas County as a whole went for President Trump in November 2016, Congressional District 13, which encompasses much of Pinellas County, actually went to Hillary Clinton by 3.2 percentage points. 

The congressional seat was represented by the late Bill Young for over 40 years before his passing in 2013.  It remained in GOP control with David Jolly, but fell to Crist in 2016 after redistricting made it more favorable to Democrats.

The fifth candidate in the race, Air Force Veteran Anna Paulina Luna, did not participate in the debate.

This was one of the first major forums in this race. Another one is scheduled later this month.