Andrew Gillum, the Democratic candidate for the Florida governorship, holds a continued lead in state polling – but now faces the twin perils of racist robo-calling and revelations he accepted 'Hamilton' tickets from an undercover agent.

Gillum opened up a 6-point lead over Republican Trump backer Rep. Ron DeSantis in the latest Quinnipiac University poll.

He leads DeSantis by 52 to 46 per cent, and has led in every pre-election poll in the state – although he held a 9-point margin in the same poll in late September, and his negative ratings have been rising.

Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis (L), shakes hands with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum after a CNN debate in Tampa, Florida, U.S., October 21, 2018. Photo taken October 21, 2018. DeSantis, a Donald Trump ally, brought up the issue of 'Hamilton' tickets in a televised debate

He holds about a 5 point lead in a RealClearPolitics polling average.

But now Gillum faces a new challenge with documents that reveal he accepted 'Hamilton' tickets from an undercover FBI agent conducting a sting operation.

He took the tickets after an offer from lobbyist and friend Adam Corey, who in an email mentioned another man, Mike Miller, who is believed to be the agent.

'Just checking in with you. Mike Miller and the crew have tickets for us for Hamilton tonight at 8 p.m.,' Corey texted Gillum in August, Politico reported.

DeSantis used the issue and reports he took a trip with the lobbyist to bash Gillum in a televised debate, and the Tallahassee mayor slapped back.

'The question is, did you pay for the 'Hamilton' ticket, or did the undercover FBI agent pay for the 'Hamilton' ticket?' DeSantis asked him.

Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum leads by 6 points in a new Florida Governor poll

Gillum would be the first black governor in a state that has seen racial tensions

Documents show Gillum accepted tickets to see Hamilton from an under cover FBI agent after a friend and lobbyist said they were available

'I didn't take free trips from anybody,' Gillum hit back, without answering directly. 'I'm a hardworking person. I know that may not fit your description of what you think people like me do. But I've worked hard for everything that I've gotten in my life, and I don't need anybody handing me anything for free.'

Gillum told NBC's 'Meet the Press Daily' on Tuesday: 'Today’s news was no news for us at all. I always knew that if we were able to connect in New York, we would go and see “Hamilton”. When I got to the theatre, my brother handed me the ticket.'

He continued: 'The idea that I accepted a gift never came to me. What I’ve tried to do throughout this whole process is be as open and transparent as I possibly can be. I understand that my opponent is attempting as best he can to muddy the waters here.'

Gillum, who would be the first black governor of Florida if elected, also has been the subject of racist robocalls.

On the calls, someone pretends to be Gillum and uses a minstrel dialect, calling himself a 'negro.'

'Well hello there. I is the negro Andrew Gillum and I'll be askin' you to make me governor of this here state of Florida,' the voice says on the call.

'My state opponent, who done call me monkey, is doin' a lot of hollerin' about how 'spensive my plans for health care be,' it continues.

'These disgusting, abhorrent robocalls represent a continuation of the ugliest, most divisive campaign in Florida's history,' a Gillum spokesman said in a statement, NBC reported. 'We would hope that these calls, and the dangerous people who are behind them, are not given any more attention than they already have been.'

The call says it was paid for by a white supremacist website out of Idaho.