President Biden had a bright view of Florida on Tuesday, telling Democrats there “we can win” in 2024 — after years of electoral defeats in the once-classic purple state.
“Here in Florida, you have a real dose of ‘Trump-ism,'” Biden bluntly told a crowd at a fundraiser in Jupiter, giving himself the sign of the cross and calling his predecessor an “extraordinary man,” according to a White House transcript.
“We have to organize, move the vote. I think we can win Florida. I think Democrats can win in Florida.”
Biden, 81, lost the Sunshine State to former President Donald Trump 47.9% to 51.2% in 2020.
Former President Barack Obama narrowly won the state in 2012 and 2008.
But the Democrats’ fortunes in Florida have only gotten worse since then. They no longer have any statewide incumbents, which they have not won since 2018.
The once-competitive race recently turned into a Republican landslide.
For example, in 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis defeated Democratic challenger and predecessor Charlie Crist by nearly 20 percentage points.
During his first election in 2018, DeSantis barely won by less than 1 percentage point. A similar phenomenon has occurred in the Senate contest as well.
President Biden urged Democrats to mobilize and continue the fight in Florida. Reuters
As of 2018, Democrats had about 257,175 more registered voters than Republicans, according to the Florida Division of Elections.
Now, Republicans have 779,701 more registered votersaccording to the latest figures from 2023.
Last year, DeSantis praised the GOP’s recovery in Florida, admonishing that the Democratic Party had turned into a “dead, rotting carcass” in his state.
In addition to being the home state of DeSantis, who ended his bid for the presidency earlier this month, Florida is also Trump’s home state.
Still, while venturing into Trump country, Biden maintained his confidence.
President Biden insulted Donald Trump as an “extraordinary man.” AFP via Getty Images
“When we do that, we will be able to look back and say something that generations will be able to say: When American democracy is at risk, as it is now, we save it,” he continued during his speech at the Pelican Club Tuesday.
Biden also emphasized, “We have to keep the White House, we have to keep the Senate and we have to win back the House.”
The Post reached out to the governor’s office for comment.
Ron DeSantis has cheered the Democratic Party’s weakness in battleground states once upon a time. AP
Trump, 77, who is favored for the Republican nod, has expressed hope that he can turn the deep blue state around in November.
“One of the other things I’m going to do — and I’m probably a fool to do it — is I’m going to make a heavy play for New York, a heavy play for New Jersey, a heavy play for Virginia, a heavy play for New Mexico, and a heavy play for the states that hasn’t been won in years, Minnesota,” Trump told Breitbart.
A prominent New York Republican has revealed Trump has been considering a blockbuster rally in the South Bronx, as The Post previously reported.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
