Rep. DeSantis Again Dismisses Claims Comments Were Racist

Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., the GOP nominee for governor, again dismissed claims comments he made earlier Wednesday – in which he warned voters not to "monkey this up" by voting for his Democratic opponent – had a racial dimension.

"It has zero to do with race," DeSantis told "Hannity." "It has everything to do with whether we want Florida to build off the success or do we want to turn to left wing socialist policies that will devastate our state?

"I believe people should be judged based on their ability and character regardless of race."

DeSantis said Wednesday morning the last thing Floridians should do is "monkey this up" by electing progressive opponent Andrew Gillum, who is African-American.

"That last thing we need to do is monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases and bankrupting the state," DeSantis, an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump, told Fox News' "America's Newsroom."

He continued, "That is not going to work, that's not going to be good for Florida."

Gillum, a Bernie Sanders-backed progressive who won Florida's primary in an upset Tuesday, accused DeSantis of "taking a page directly from the campaign manual of Donald Trump."

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