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As Primary Nears, Gillum Laments FBI Probe, Heads Off For Statewide Bus Tour

Tallahassee Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum's bus is parked on Kleman Plaza as he prepares for a statewide tour ahead of the August 28th primary. (8/20/18)
Robbie Gaffney
/
WFSU News
Tallahassee Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum's bus is parked on Kleman Plaza as he prepares for a statewide tour ahead of the August 28th primary. (8/20/18)

Gubernatorial Candidate Andrew Gillum is claiming he’s been unfairly targeted by an FBI probe investigating public corruption in Tallahassee. Yet that's not stopping him from rallying his base during a campaign stop at Klemen Plaza Monday.

Tallahassee Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum's bus is parked on Kleman Plaza as he prepares for a statewide tour ahead of the August 28th primary. (8/20/18)
Credit Robbie Gaffney / WFSU News
/
WFSU News
Tallahassee Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum's bus is parked on Kleman Plaza as he prepares for a statewide tour ahead of the August 28th primary. (8/20/18)

The probe continues to cast a shadow over Gillum’s campaign. Insiders believe the investigation may be hindering his fundraising efforts, but Gillum says his record speaks for itself.

“I would ask people to measure me by my actions, Right? I’ve been elected fifteen years. I’ve had not a smudge on my name until I decided to run for governor and now it is I’m supposed to prove that I am somehow not under investigation. I think that’s an unfair standard. I would ask people to just follow what the facts are and measure me by… Measure me by my actions.”

The FBI probe is ongoing. Gillum has not been named a subject of the investigation. But the issue has hung over his campaign. Recent polls show him trailing former North Florida Congresswoman Gwen Graham and former Miami Beach Mayor Phil Levine in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Gillum has also raised far less money than his challengers despite multiple appearances on MSNBC, and a recent swing through South Florida with Bernie Sanders. 

Despite the headwinds, Gillum told reporters Monday he still believes he can win.

“It’s hard to reconcile sometimes what you see in polls with what you’re experiencing on the street. For instance, I think over the last month in red parts of this state, in blue parts of this state, and purple parts of this state, I think we won nearly every straw poll taken.”

When asked where he'll be spending primary night, Gillum replied he'll be in Tallahassee. 

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Robbie Gaffney is a recent graduate from Florida State University with degrees in Digital Media Production and Creative Writing. Before working at WFSU, they recorded FSU’s basketball and baseball games for Seminole Productions as well as interned for the PBS Station in Largo, Florida. Robbie loves playing video games such as Shadow of the Colossus, Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. Their other hobbies include sleeping and watching anime.
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