U.S. Senator Bill Nelson hosted a round table discussion with elected officials and students in Clearwater on April 6, with the topics ranging from gun safety to foreign policy to his upcoming Senate run and who might be his Republican opponent.

• Nelson spoke at length on gun safety legislation
• Reiterated support of universal background checks
• "Whoever my opponent is, I take them very seriously"

During the session Nelson spent a significant amount of time talking gun safety legislation. He reiterated his support of an assault weapons ban, as well as universal background checks, but tempered expectations about significant change occurring anytime soon.

“I want to at the outset tell you that not much more is going to be done, because the votes are not there to address the issue of massacres," Nelson said.

Nelson did not discuss with the group speculation that Florida Gov. Rick Scott plans to run against him. 

“Whoever my opponent is I take them very seriously, and I run like there’s no tomorrow,” Nelson said when asked directly about the possibility of facing Scott in the Fall.

Nelson did take time to highlight differences in his positions on issues from the governor, and how those differences might shape a Senate race. He said he believes Scott's recent signing of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act following the mass shooting in Parkland would likely play a factor.

“There are huge differences in our position on issues," said Nelson. "Just go to the beach and look out there and see if you see any oil rigs out there. There aren’t going to be any oil rigs as long as I’m around."

Gov. Scott tweeted last week that he'd be making a major announcement, presumably about a U.S. Senate run, on Facebook Live on April 9.