MIDWAY, Fla. (WTXL) - Sunday night, Floridians watched as Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum and former Congressman Ron DeSantis debated for the first time in the race for governor.
The two tackled a range of issues, from the environment to school safety to race.
We asked WTXL political contributor, Dr. Ed Moore, to help analyze how both candidates communicated their message.
Dr. Moore said they solidified their bases and a key factor in the election will be voters with "no party affiliation."
He also talked about Gillum's efforts to paint DeSantis as someone with similar views to that of the president.
"I would much rather hear the two of these guys talking about what they want to do and what their vision is for Florida, rather than who's backing whom," said Dr. Moore. "They can sit and shoot at each other all day with that kind of stuff, and it doesn't really tell the voters much. It reinforces, by doing that, he was reinforcing DeSantis' base."
Gillum and DeSantis will have their second and final debate on Wednesday at Broward College in Davie, Fla.
