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Pam Bondi has transitioned from being a conventional Republican to a staunch supporter of President Trump. She is known for her charisma and loyalty to him, which has led to her being chosen as the attorney general by the president-elect.
Authored by Patricia Mazzei
Writing from Miami
On the day before the presidential primary in Florida in 2016, Pam Bondi, who is the state’s attorney general, made a surprising move by endorsing Donald J. Trump at a rally in Tampa, where she is from.
After former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida withdrew, Ms. Bondi’s top pick for president was no longer an option. Senator Marco Rubio from Florida was still in the running, but with little support. Not many prominent Republicans in the state had endorsed Mr. Trump, especially not someone as influential as Ms. Bondi.
"I promised Jeb that I would support him, but once he dropped out of the race, I made a commitment to Donald Trump," she stated.
Ms. Bondi saw a resemblance of herself in him because they were both outsiders without any previous experience in political office. She was elected as the state attorney general in 2010, alongside other novice Republican candidates who were swept into power during the Tea Party movement.
In 2016, she had become a prominent figure in the state’s political scene. She noticed that the party was about to experience a significant shift, and her ability to anticipate this change led to Mr. Trump selecting her as the head of the Justice Department, serving as the U.S. attorney general.
Adam Goodman, a political consultant based in Tampa who has been advising Ms. Bondi since he convinced her to run for office in 2010, emphasized the lasting impact of someone who supports you early on, even when it may not be the popular choice.
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