(CNN) Former Tallahassee, Florida, Mayor Andrew Gillum thinks that former Vice President Joe Biden will overwhelmingly win the Florida Democratic primary because of comments that fellow presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders made about Cuba and Fidel Castro.

The state primary on March 17 will "likely be a Biden runaway," Gillum, a CNN contributor, said to CNN's David Axelrod on an episode of "The Axe Files" podcast that posted Thursday.

"Florida is one of those states where international politics matters about as much as the domestic does," said Gillum, who grew up in Miami.

He added, "While those comments may have felt contained to Cuba, in South Florida ... where you've got Venezuelans and Colombians, Cubans and so many others who have been forced from the homelands that they love under these authoritarian regimes, this struck a different kind of nerve."

Sanders has defended remarks he made last month about a "literacy program" launched by the Cuban government and said that "it's unfair to simply say everything is bad" with the way Castro ruled the country.

In new #AxeFiles, fmr FL Gov nominee @AndrewGillum says @BernieSanders praise of Castro will spur @JoeBiden rout in 3/17 primary. Quoting FL Hispanic leader: "It was like listening to Trump after Charlottesville say there were good people on both sides."https://t.co/oZMsoGhyTk pic.twitter.com/NbEOIzchCQ — David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) March 5, 2020

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