Biden Crosses Florida in Final Push Before Election Day
President Biden delivers remarks on healthcare costs in Hallandale, Florida on November 1, 2022 (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz).
President Biden spoke in South Florida on Tuesday on very current healthcare issues facing American citizens. He later appeared at a DNC rally supporting Florida democrats running in the 2022 Midterm Elections.
Article by Georgia Simon, Associate White House Reporter
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - On Nov. 1, President Biden spoke in Hallandale and Miami Gardens, Florida on the importance of Social Security, Medicare and lowering Prescription drug costs. Following the speech, he gave remarks at a DNC, Democratic National Committee, rally, alongside Congressman and former Orlando Police Chief, Val Demings, and former Republican Governor turned Democrat, Charlie Crist.
Demings is running to unseat Senator Marco Rubio, while Crist is trying to return to the Governor's Mansion and beat incumbent Governor, Ron DeSantis. A former swing-state turned majority conservative, Florida has key seats in the midterms. In hopes of denying DeSantis another term, the President felt the importance of traveling to a state that has a lot of power over the next few years.
“He’s the most important man in the world. The fact that he’s coming down to Florida with a week to go until the election says everything you need to know about how important Florida is,” Crist said.
The DNC rally was held at a private HBCU, historical black college or university, in Miami Gardens called Florida Memorial University. At the DNC rally were many other Florida politicians including Florida Agriculture Commissioner, Nikki Fried, who ran against Crist in the Democratic gubernatorial primary back in August. State representatives and state senators participated, alongside Florida House of Representatives and more. As well as Emmy award-winning actor Keegan-Michael Key and fellow Actress Jenifer Lewis.
Starting off the Presidents day, he spoke in Hallandale Beach, Florida about Social Security and Medicare for Americans. As well as lowering Prescription Drug Prices like insulin for type one diabetics. With Florida having an extensive retirement population, these topics had proximity to the local community. He also mentioned the importance of voting blue in the midterms explaining that the Republican party “ain’t your fathers Republican Party.”
“A senator from Florida going after Medicare and Social Security?” President Biden said sarcastically. “A great deal of people in the state are gonna be affected and they’re under siege by our Republican friends.”
Whilst in the Sunshine State, President Biden emphasized what is on the ballot come Nov. 8, which shows a stiff line between a democratic America and a Republican one. Demings repeatedly took shots at her opponent, Marco Rubio, throughout her DNC speech, once again emphasizing the key differences between the GOP and Democrats right now, which is abortion rights.
“Marco Rubio wants to take us back to a time when women were second class citizens…I don't know about you I’m not going,” she said.
With the election only days away, Biden is traveling across the country to Illinois, Pennsylvania, California, and New Mexico, in hopes of gaining as much momentum heading into election day on Tues. Early voting has started and each state differs from specific rules regarding timing and when early voting closes.
Each state has different regulations regarding poll open and closing times. Different time zones also take into effect during election season, further delaying results from the Pacific coast to the East. Polls can open as early as five am but can open as late as eight am. Polls close between seven pm and nine pm. To learn more go to https://www.vote.org/.