Sen. Bill Nelson said Monday in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer that Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R.) will "say and do anything to try to get elected."
Scott formally entered the race Monday for Nelson's Senate seat in what is expected to be an expensive and competitive race.
When asked what Nelson thought was the biggest difference between him and Scott for Florida voters, Nelson said, "I've always thought that if you just try to do the right thing, the politics is going to take care of itself."
Blitzer pressed him again, asking him to name one issue where he sees a major difference.
"Wolf, there are so many differences between the two of us you can go to the beach in Florida and there are no oil rigs out there," Nelson said.
He also cited the booming space industry and protected Medicare and Social Security programs in Florida.
Nelson claimed that Scott had Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke come down to Florida and against Scott's request say "We're not going to drill in Southern Florida," when "in fact, that's still in their rule."
He told Blitzer he hopes he moderates a debate between him and Scott.
Democrats badly need Nelson to defend his seat in their bid to flip the Senate to a Democratic majority, but Scott's name recognition, money and rising approval rating will make him a formidable challenger.