Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has been taking some criticism over her asking to push back a death row inmate's execution over a fundraising event conflict.

But will it affect her re-election bid?

Convicted killer Marshall Lee Gore was scheduled to be executed Tuesday night. But Gov. Rick Scott delayed the execution of Gore from Sept. 10 until Oct. 1 at the request of Bondi. The Sept. 10 execution date conflicted with the date of a Bondi campaign fundraiser.

Scott and Bondi are required to oversee Florida executions. Scott said Monday that he did not know why Bondi, a Republican, asked for the delay. He says it was routine to accommodate requests from other officials.

Now, some state Democrats are using the issue to challenge Bondi's re-election bid. Scott also has been criticized for not asking why Bondi wanted to change the date.

"Most Floridians, whether you support the death penalty or not, believe that the execution of a criminal is maybe the most solemn thing that state government does," said Democratic strategist Steve Schale. "And to trivialize it by canceling it to go to a fundraiser is just something I think most people in Florida are going to shake their heads at."

Gore was convicted in the 1988 slaying of Robyn Novick, a 30-year-old exotic dancer. In addition to Novick, Gore also was sentenced to death for the 1988 slaying of Susan Roark.

Hours after Scott answered questions about the execution delay Bondi issued a statement that said she should have not have made the request.

"As a prosecutor, there was nothing more important than seeing justice done, especially when it came to the unconscionable act of murder," Bondi said. "I personally put two people on death row and, as Attorney General, have already participated in eight executions since I took office, a role I take very seriously.

"The planned execution of Marshall Lee Gore had already been stayed twice by the courts, and we should not have requested that the date of the execution be moved."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.