Andrew Gillum talks tightening polls, storm recovery challenges

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum is guiding the capital city through post-storm recovery, but the Democratic gubernatorial nominee found some time Friday to talk with MSNBC’s Katy Tur.

Unsurprisingly, the campaign came up.

Turning to polling, Tur noted the race with Ron DeSantis is tightening according to recent individual surveys.

While the Real Clear Politics average is a 3.7 point lead for Gillum, the two most recent polls in the index show it as just a one point race.

Gillum, who consistently trailed in polls ahead of the primary (though with a surge during early voting that some polls caught), has clearly become accustomed to the horserace — even if he’s winning

“I’m not big on polls, even though the recent ones have me leading, there wasn’t a single one that had me leading [before the primary],” Gillum said, adding that Florida is a “one percent state” in elections.

“My concern has been more squarely focused here at home,” Gillum said.

Also, Gillum discussed storm recovery.

“Our biggest challenge is the fact that my community has 50 percent tree cover,” Gillum said. “It’s our hope to have 90 percent people with power by the end of Sunday.”

Tur also asked Gillum about how he would deal with President Donald Trump during storms as Governor.

“The job of the Governor … is to do what’s in the best interest of the people of the state,” Gillum said, adding that he’d like to see the President “put partisanship and political interest aside” in storm recovery.

The interview was brief. Tur noted that she invited “Rick DeSantis” to appear on the program also, but he declined.

Likely, she had no better luck booking “Ron Scott.”