Jay Collins ‘still deciding’ if he wants to run for Governor

Another national interview has come and gone for Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, and he’s no closer to announcing whether he’s ready to run for Governor.

Though radio host Dana Loesch did her best to get a specific answer during her friendly interview, the LG wouldn’t give a timeframe for when his decision would be revealed.

“We’re not quite there yet,” Collins said Thursday. “We’re still deciding.”

Collins said his team is “in the final stretch of making our decision” after a “very wide review,” and chided commentators for expecting an announcement earlier.

“I’ve seen a lot of online blogs and some other people talking about, they thought it was this day, that day,” Collins said. “Guys, I’ve not put out a date. If I give you a date, it’s the one that matters, right?”

Collins referred to the amputation of his leg as a result of military service to illustrate why a hasty decision wasn’t coming.

“I’m making sure that should I jump in, I am prepared, I have measured twice, maybe thrice, and you cut once. And I’ll tell you, I say this as someone with 10 fingers, five toes. Math wins. And once you cut something and once you decide, some things don’t come back,” Collins said. “Let’s make sure we’re doing the right thing for the people of Florida, not just my ego as a politician, right?”

If Collins does enter the race, he will be the third major Republican candidate, joining U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and former House Speaker Paul Renner.

Donalds, who President Donald Trump endorses, is the front-runner for now.

A recent St. Pete Polls survey shows Donalds with 39% support against Renner and Collins, each with less than 4% support.

In a two-way race between the LG and the legislator from Naples, Donalds would win more than 52% of the vote to Collins’ nearly 12% according to that same poll.