FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — President Joe Biden on Tuesday lashed out at Republican policies, accusing them of being a threat to Social Security and Medicare, and mobilized Florida voters to replace Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Christ. made closing arguments intended to endorse. and Senate candidate Val Demings.
“It’s great to be with the next Governor of Florida, Charlie Christ. It’s great to be with the next Senator from Florida, Val Demings. I know them both very well. Charlie is someone you know and trust,” Biden said in a 36-minute speech at a rally at Florida Memorial University.
“He used to be a great governor, but with him running to replace him, he will be an even better governor again,” Christo said.
Biden’s audience in South Florida loved what they heard, but the Sunshine State’s political outlook is dire for the president’s party and its leading candidates.
Medicare, Social Security
At the Florida Memorial, Biden went after Senator Rick Scott (Florida Republican), chairman of the Republican Senate Committee. He has his 12-item “Plan to Save America.” He won the midterm elections.
Biden has lashed out at the provisions of Scott’s plan for Republicans to repeal all federal laws in five years, which Democrats say will put millions of seniors at risk of losing Medicare and Social Security. claims.
At a community center in Hallandale Beach, Mr. Biden emphasized Democrats’ support for Social Security and Medicare and warned that those programs were “under siege” by Republicans.
The President’s first stop in South Florida was at the OB Johnson Park community center. Boynton Beach resident Sheldon, 74, after he was introduced by Armus. August. One of his provisions cuts the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare recipients and limits the cost of insulin for health insurance policyholders for the elderly and disabled.
“They deserve to retire with dignity and peace, and that’s how it should be in the United States,” Biden said.
Biden said Social Security recipients “earned it.” “They have been putting money with every paycheck to pay for social security since they were teenagers. And they are more than government programs. , when it’s time to retire, we’ll be there for you.”
Biden said Republicans “want to remove[these programs].” “Who do you think they are?”
“Imagine a nursery teacher in her mid-sixties who has been with the company for 35 years. She is paid by her paycheck to Medicare and Social Security. She figured she could count on Medicare and Social Security to get through it, with these guys she doesn’t know anymore.
miami gardens rally
Thousands then gathered for a sometimes raucous Democratic rally at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens.
The venue, the only historically black college or university in Miami-Dade County, which boasts the largest black population in the state, was deliberately chosen by Democrats. African-American and Caribbean-American voters are important constituencies for the Democratic Party. Without a decent turnout of black voters, the Democrats have no chance of winning a top election.
Crowds gathered for a Florida memorial rally hours before Biden took the stage just after 8 p.m.
Prior to the rally, Biden spoke at Christo’s fundraising reception at his Golden Beach private residence.
Biden called the race between Christo and Republican Governor Ron DeSantis “one of the most important elections in the country.”
“Charlie is fighting the incarnation of Donald Trump,” Biden told about 70 guests at a fundraising reception for Christo’s campaign in Golden Beach. I say it depends and I really mean it.
Mr Biden said the country was at an “inflection point” and that democracy had not been in such danger since the Civil War. “Look at the reaction of Republicans joking about it,” he said.
political outlook
At the end of the speech, Biden, Christo, and Demings raised their hands, placing the president in the middle, creating a photo for Democrats to share. Republicans may also use it to remind voters that the governor and the US Senate candidate are allied. With a president that Republicans hate.
In South Florida, Biden’s presence brought publicity to Christo and Demings, but may not do much to change the trajectory of their campaigns.
With Election Day just a week away, the November 8th event will take place relatively late in the campaign season. Floridians began mail-in ballots at the end of September, and in-person early voting began Oct. 24 in the state’s largest counties.
As of Tuesday morning, just over 3 million voters in Florida had already cast their ballots. Republicans are gaining an increasing advantage, with 137,364 more registered voters in the party voting than Democrats so far. With about 1.2 million mail-in ballots on Oct. 23, when early voting was about to begin, Democrats were ahead of Republicans with her 45,518 votes.
DeSantis has an average of 52.1% in the FiveThirtyEight polls, taking into account poll quality, sample size, partisanship of the polling organization, and when the most recent poll was taken. Christo, a former Democratic congressman and former Republican governor, has 42.2%.
Christo said he was not deterred. “I know they say we’re the underdogs, but that’s okay. I’ve been fighting for the underdogs all my life. Families struggling to make ends meet, low wages.” teachers, women who deserve the freedom to make their own decisions about their bodies”. To protect freedom and save Florida.”
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) averages 50.2% for the FiveThirtyEight, while former Orlando congressman and former police chief Demings has 43.2%.
“I know it’s not easy,” said Demings. “I feel the victory is near. I feel the victory is near. Do you feel it? With your help, Charlie Christ will be the next governor. And I With their help, I will be elected to the next U.S. Senate.”
Polls show that many voters are dissatisfied with the direction of the country, especially due to high inflation. Biden has emphasized positive developments since his inauguration. “Economic growth is picking up,” he said. “Gas prices have come down.”
Enthusiastic audience, even cheered when he advertised funds to expand PortMiami. DeSantis notes that he credits multiple programs paid for by federal money sent to Florida through spending and legislation passed by Democrats, and he believes the governor ultimately takes credit for the port expansion. He said he was confident he would.
Republican reaction
Scott welcomed Biden to the state in a television ad that aired Monday night and Tuesday in South Florida. , said people should fear the new IRS agents who enforce tax laws.
“Joe Biden cut $280 billion from Medicare and robbed seniors in Florida,” he said in an ad. “I’m Rick Scott. Mr. Biden should resign.”
Lt. Gov. Janet Nunez wrote on Twitter that Biden’s visit was a gift to Republicans. “Sorry @FlaDems, but Biden’s visit to the Florida Free State will only serve as a reminder to voters of your radical policies and disastrous failures.”
And Rubio’s campaign used the visit to remind voters what they didn’t like about the way the country is currently running and warned that electing Demings would make things worse.
“Americans are in a worse place than they were two years ago, thanks to Val Demings’ record of voting 100% for Biden’s far-left agenda, and the Biden administration and Democratic-dominated Washington are to blame,” said Elizabeth. Gregory says. Rubio’s campaign director of communications said in a statement:
plea for the democrats
Actor Keegan-Michael Key told the Florida Memorial audience that the vote was essential because “some really horrible things are happening in this country right now.”
“This country really, really needs help,” Key said, citing LGBT rights, abortion rights and the environment. We are here because we can make a positive difference in the world, and the choices you make today and the decisions you make next week can impact millions of people and even save lives.
“Vote Christo. Vote Demings. Somewhere in the state, he said, there was an “older white Republican looking for a hanging Chad.”
Three Democrats from Broward and Miami-Dade counties helped pump up the crowd at the Florida Memorial.
“This is our time, this is our moment, this is our destiny moment.
“Ignore the polls and the pundits,” advised U.S. Congressman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
US Congressman Frederica Wilson said DeSantis’ re-election would be dangerous for Florida. “All this evil in his first term, God forbid what he will do to us in his second term,” Wilson said.
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