Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate dips in polls after supporting NRA

A Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate has dropped in the polls after siding with the National Rifle Association (NRA) on a new state law raising the age of purchasing certain guns to 21.

Adam Putnam has said he opposes new gun laws and has made appearances on NRA TV to urge members of the organization to fight back against those fighting for gun control in the wake of a deadly shooting last month at a Parkland, Fla., high school.

“It’s more important now than ever for Second Amendment advocates and gun owners to step forward and roll up their sleeves and be involved in the process,” Putnam said.

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Republican consultants told ABC7 that his stance on the issue may hurt his chances of winning the Republican Primary.

Polls showed Putnam with an early lead in the race for the GOP nomination but that lead has disappeared and he is slightly behind his Republican challenger, U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis.

DeSantis now has a slim 2-point lead over Putnam, who is the state’s agriculture commissioner.

Some consultant say the shift in the polls may be in part due to Putnam’s collaboration with the NRA, who is suing after current Gov. Rick Scott (R) signed a bill into law raising the minimum age limit to buy a gun to 21.

Young, liberal students told ABC7 they thought Putnam’s comments supporting the NRA could be “political suicide.”

Voters will head to the polls in the gubernatorial primaries on Aug. 28. Recent polling shows Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine with a slim lead over former Rep. Gwen Graham for the Democratic nomination.

President Trump narrowly won the swing state by just 1 point in 2016.