DeSantis, Gillum Rally Support Across The State

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - With just eight days left in the campaign, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum is firing up his supporters and hoping to gain new ones.

At a campaign stop Monday at Miami Dade College, he reminded voters that there's a lot at stake.

"When we win this race, you're going to have a governor who names three Supreme Court justices to Florida. We're talking appointments up and down the State of Florida. We're talking more than four years, 40 years," he said.

Gillum was joined on the campaign stop by California Senator Kamala Harris.

"When they are trying to divide us, let's not buy into it, let's not get played," she told the crowd to enthusiastic applause.

Gillum also pointed out that his opponent, Republican Ron DeSantis, has been endorsed by President Donald Trump.

"I've got an opponent running around playing footsie with people dividing us on a national stage. On November 6th, there's an opportunity to retire DeSantis," he said.

During campaign stops at the African American Research Library in Ft. Lauderdale and at the Broward Teachers Union Hall Gillum was joined by former Attorney General Eric Holder.

With a protest going on outside the African American Research Library, Holder stumped for Gillum inside.

He incorporated the protest into his campaigning.

"We're willing for fight for our democracy," Holder said. "Give the power back to the people and away from special interests."

Protests continued with a lone NRA supporter at the rally. Deputies say that protester told them someone threw water in his face.

During his speech, Gillum referenced the two protesters.

"The other side, and their rhetoric, they're going to continue to be loud and distracting and negative," he said. "Honestly, if Donald Trump were the man you elected, you'd probably be pretty depressed too, right?"

While Gillum campaigned at Miami-Dade College, Trump lobbed a Twitter attack on the gubernatorial candidate, calling Gillum a "thief who is mayor of a poorly run Tallahassee, said to be one of the most corrupt cities in the country."

Gillum responded by saying, "Donald Trump is howling because he's weak. Florida, go vote today."

That's the same message he's pushing with voters.

"We have a chance to send a message to Donald Trump and all his followers, that America is still America," Gillum said. "And that common sense and decency can prevail in our state."

Gillum is emphasizing the importance of voting early and electing Democrats up and down the ballot.

Gillum a;sp stopped by the Broward Teachers Union headquarters to fire up local teachers, and he was supposed to move on to a nearly early voting location, but never made it.

"I am disappointed," said voter Jerry Heller. "We were here very early in the morning to get the people out, but he has been to Kings Point four times."

Supporters said it was unfortunate Gillum couldn't come out because there was a good turnout of voters in the heavily Democratic area of Tamarac.

On Sunday, DeSantis was in South Florida drumming up support in Coral Springs. At one point, he was he was asked about the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh.

"You have one of these guys who is just an absolute evil man doing something like this. He needs a swift death penalty, I mean this is what the death penalty is for," he said.

DeSantis is scheduled to hold a rally in Deltona on Monday.

CBS4 will be in Fort Myers on Wednesday when President Trump holds a campaign rally for DeSantis.