Gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis brushes off recent poll numbers

OCOEE, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - Former Rep. Ron DeSantis made a campaign stop at a private school in Ocoee to plug his education plan. The Republican gubernatorial candidate brushed off the results of a recent poll putting him six points behind Democratic opponent Andrew Gillum.

“When I was running in the Primary, they had a poll out ten days before the election saying I was down by nine, one said I was up one, I won by twenty. I don't think a single poll had Gillum winning his primary, and he won,” DeSantis said.

Without giving specifics, DeSantis said what counts is Election Day. “We have a job to do, identify our vision, and if voters know what type of leader I am and know I'm someone who's gonna do a good job, then that'll be a strong contrast.”

DeSantis also outlined his plans to tackle the Red Tide that's choking Florida’s gulf coast. The candidate said his connections with President Trump will help.

“What I'll be able to do is work constructively with the Trump administration to go through the bureaucracy, get that thing up and running. When you do that, you will not be discharging polluted water into the Caloosahatchee or Saint Lucie Rivers,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis claimed he's got a blueprint for fixing the problem. “I'm gonna look at new water quality standards which I think is important and look to see other ways we can address Red Tide specifically. We've got a lot of input on it and just want it to be scientifically sound.”

Governor Rick Scott, who's running for the U.S. Senate, has been hounded by protestors during campaign stops who say he's not doing enough to wipe out Red Tide.