SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - With Election Day just days away, gubernatorial candidates Andrew Gillum and Ron DeSantis made some campaign stops in South Florida.
Gillum, the Democratic nominee, started his day in Key West before he made an appearance at Miami-Dade College’s Homestead Campus and then stopped in Kendall.
He also visited his old neighborhood in Richmond Heights before making a stop in North Miami, Thursday.
His message is: there is only one choice to make in this race and voters should vote like their lives depend on it.
“Get out there and vote for the issues that you care about,” Gillum said. “Assess the candidates on our records, and I promise you, when you assess Mr. DeSantis’ records and you compare them to mine, there will be no choice. I’m confident in that.”
Gillum spoke to the public on a host of topics, ranging from climate change to public education.
“We are going to change not only, the face of the future of the State of Florida but the face of the nation,” Gillum said. “All eyes across the world are right here on the State of Florida.”
Gillum said he has heard that young people are not making it out to the polls, so this was an important stop in order to get the ball rolling.
His next stop Thursday evening is in Miami Gardens to speak to voters at an early voter site at the North Dade Library.
Meanwhile, Republican nominee Ron DeSantis also found a warm welcome in South Florida.
Earlier in the day, DeSantis rallied voters at a Southwest Miami-Dade church and spoke with Senator Marco Rubio by his side.
He also made a stop at the iconic Cafe Versailles in Little Havana where he had Cuban coffee before getting into his message five days out from Election Day.
DeSantis touched upon faith-based issues and his own faith during the event. He also looked to set himself apart from his opponent, citing his conservative record, his military service and his stance on social issues such as abortion.
He also spoke to the Cuban Americans in the audience, promising to fight to end the Castro regime if he is elected governor. He also said he is the candidate best equipped to deal with officials in Washington.
“I think Andrew is running on impeaching Trump, and I get Trump’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but when you take that extreme position, he’s not going to be able to work with the administration to advance Florida’s priorities,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis attacked Gillum for the ongoing FBI investigation in Tallahassee and also what he claims is Gillum’s anti-police stance.
“He will not stand by law enforcement, and he’s not proven that he can keep his own community in Tallahassee safe. Why would we want him to be in charge of the whole State of Florida? Can’t happen.”
The Republican nominee tried to sell himself to not just his supporters but those who are undecided.
“Leadership means doing the right thing, even when it’s not easy,” DeSantis said. “It means doing the right thing when nobody else is looking. I can tell you from serving in the military to being a prosecutor to serving in Washington, I’ve put the tax payers first, I put the country first.”
A message consistent with both candidates is to encourage votes to get out and voice their choice. The candidates and South Florida voters said they know that this race is close and every vote counts.
Both candidates have additional stops planned in South Florida, Thursday.
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