Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum (D) said Thursday that President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE provides "cover" for racists.

Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee, stopped short of calling the president racist, but he criticized those surrounding him and Trump's willingness to have them around.

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“I have not called the president a racist, but there are racists, and his sympathizers, who believe that he may be, which is why they go to his aid, which is why he has provided them cover," he said on CNN. "And I believe that his cover has led to much of the degradation in our political discourse."

Gillum said that degradation has permeated down to local politics as well.

“The kind of politics, the tone that we’re seeing right now set nationally that has seeped into the race here in the state of Florida from Day One of this general election, is beneath the station of the office and is beneath the intelligence of the voters,” he added.

Gillum made a similar distinction during a debate with his gubernatorial opponent, former Rep. Ron DeSantis Ron DeSantisTrump may meet with potential Supreme Court pick in Miami Florida governor unveils legislation targeting protesters in 'violent or disorderly' demonstrations Names to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court MORE (R).

“I’m not calling Mr. DeSantis a racist,” Gillum said during the Oct. 24 debate on CNN. “I’m simply saying the racists believe he’s a racist.”

Gillum would be the first black governor of Florida if he wins on Election Day.

There have been two racist robocalls targeting Gillum during his gubernatorial run, one of which was reportedly issued by a neo-Nazi group based in Idaho.

The most recent robocall, which went out Oct. 23, used minstrel-style dialect to imitate Gillum as monkeys screech in the background. It is not clear who paid for that robocall.

DeSantis has denied any involvement with the calls.

On the first day of his campaign, DeSantis warned Floridians not to "monkey this up" by voting for Gillum, a comment that was widely denounced as racist. DeSantis denied there were any racial undertones behind the statement, saying it was a common phrase.

Gillum and DeSantis are locked in a tight race for governor with less than a week until voters cast their ballots. The most recent polling shows the two candidates in a virtual tie.