Obama to campaign for Gillum, Nelson in Florida

Former President Obama will travel to Florida this week to campaign for Democratic candidates Andrew Gillum and Sen. Bill Nelson.

The former president will appear with the candidates on Friday, just days ahead of the midterm elections, the Florida Democratic Party announced Monday.

Gillum, the Tallahassee mayor who is facing off against former Rep. Ron DeSantis (R) to be the state’s next governor, said that he is “proud and humbled” to have Obama join him on the campaign trail.

{mosads}“With President Obama’s help, we’re going to bring it home for Florida this November,” Gillum said in the Florida Democrats’ release, describing Obama as a “friend and a true patriot.”

Nelson, who is defending his seat in a close race with Gov. Rick Scott (R), touted his support for Obama’s health-care reforms as president in the release.

“Barack Obama has been my friend since I first introduced him to Florida in 2005, when he was a rising political star,” Nelson said.

A new poll released Sunday showed Nelson and Scott tied at 46 percent support. And Gillum and DeSantis are also in a close race that has become increasingly heated. A RealClearPolitics average of recent polls shows Gillum leading by just 3.2 points.

Former Vice President Joe Biden appeared in Florida to campaign for Nelson and Gillum last week.

And President Trump will appear in the state twice before midterms to host “Make America Great Again” rallies. Trump will hold a rally Wednesday night in Fort Myers, and on Saturday at Pensacola International Airport.

Democrats probably need Nelson to hold onto his seat to have any chance of taking control of the Senate. The three-term incumbent is one of 10 Democratic senators attempting to defend their seat in a state that Trump won in 2016.