Andrew Gillum ready to "go" if Ron DeSantis attacks in the Florida governor's debate



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CNN's Jake Tapper will host the one-hour meeting, which will begin at 8 pm AND, WEDU studios in Tampa. The debate will be broadcast live on CNN.

While there remains only a little over two weeks before polling day and early votes begin Monday, DeSantis is likely considering the showdown as an opportunity to alter the course of a race.

At a campaign stop on Friday, Gillum, the young progressive mayor of Tallahassee, predicted that the former Republican congressman would hit him hard and loud, then warned him that he was going to kill him. he was ready to reciprocate.

"(DeSantis) is going to call me socialist, he's going to call me corrupt, he's going to launch his hidden versions of racial epithets, he's going to call me anti-Israel," Gillum said. comparing his opponent to the president. Donald Trump, whose support of DeSantis won the primary school of the month of August.

"I will do everything in my power to hold a debate worthy of Florida residents," Gillum said. "But if I have to go, I'll go."

Although they have covered the airwaves, the debate will offer Gillum and DeSantis an opportunity to present themselves to voters in a more intimate and uncluttered setting.

"There is one element of this that is sort of the initial thing that everyone must pass / succeed," said Florida-based Democratic strategist Steve Schale. "Obviously, I think that Andrew has done more of that stuff in his life, but both are fairly new quantities on the scale of the state and the scene."

DeSantis, like Gillum, was a surprise primary winner. But his transition to the general election has been difficult. After surviving Adam Putnam, the state's agricultural commissioner, DeSantis called on Fox News to warn Floridians not to "break their heads trying to adopt a socialist agenda" and to vote for Gillum, who is the first African-American governor of the state.

"It has nothing to do with race," said DeSantis during the fiery storm that followed. "It has everything to do with whether we want Florida to go in the right direction."

DeSantis resigned from his seat in the House shortly thereafter to focus on the governors' competition. But his campaign, which in the primaries was almost entirely based on his allegiance to Trump, slowly set up a political platform. DeSantis is opposed to the expansion of Medicaid in this state, which Gillum ardently supports, but has still not published – a few weeks away from the election – a comprehensive health plan . The problems page of his website does not address this problem, which, according to polls, is a major concern for Florida voters.

Saturday morning, however, the Republican received another boost from Trump, who tweeted his support – and an attack on Gillum.

"DeSantis is hard at work, a great congressman and best student of Harvard & Yale, Ron will be the governor of Florida 's record, Rick Scott has given him huge foundations on which he' s support, "said Trump. "His opponent is heading one of the most corrupt and corrupt cities in the United States!"

Gillum quickly retaliated, quoting Trump and suggesting to the president did not have the courage to name him"When you lie to me from the most powerful office in the world," wrote Gillum, "and you still do not have the guts of me …"
Trump was referring to an ongoing federal inquiry into public corruption in Tallahassee. Gillum said the FBI had told him that he was not in the center of the probe. Earlier this month, his campaign sent a letter to the TV stations asking them to stop airing an advertisement for the Florida Republican Party directly linking Gillum to the announcement.

Gillum has managed to unite the Florida Democrats – one of his main opponents, Chris King, is now his nominee for the vice presidency – and enjoys the consistent support of the nation's best-known political figures. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders was one of Gillum's early supporters, who received significant financial support from liberal megadoners Tom Steyer and George Soros. Gillum will appear alongside Hillary Clinton at a private event later in the week and, separately, at events with former Vice President Joe Biden, who will also campaign for Senator Bill Nelson, the incumbent Democrat, who is currently in a close fight for re-election with GOP Governor Rick Scott.

DeSantis and Gillum will meet for their second and possibly last final debate on Wednesday in South Florida.

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