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President Joe Biden slammed Republicans for wanting to shut down social programs as he kicked off the final week of the midterm campaign, while Democrats braced for a potential Republican red wave in next week’s election.
Biden spoke at a senior citizen center where he taunted Republicans for wanting Republicans, who he says want to cut social programs and raise taxes on the rich — a topic of concern to a state with a large population of retirees.
“I came to Florida today to talk about two very, very, very important programs,” he said. “it will affect as many Americans as anything else.”
He described Social Security and Medicare as “besieged by our Republican friends.”
Biden concluded his speech by saying that he hoped God would “give some of our Republican friends some relief.”
Biden also caught himself talking about the high cost of living that the war in Iraq has brought to Americans, but he quickly corrected himself by saying he meant the war in Ukraine.
He said he was thinking of his son Beau serving in Iraq. Beau died in 2015 in the US from aggressive brain cancer, believed to be caused by his exposure to fire pits.
He thought people should have “peace of mind” when they retire. And he noted how Medicare can now negotiate the prices of prescription drugs.
“Here in Florida, 21% of the people are over 65. It’s the second highest of all the states in the country,” he noted.
President Joe Biden slammed Republicans for wanting to shut down social programs as he entered the final week of his campaign
Biden read from a pamphlet by Republican Senator Rick Scott
He also pointed out under his administration that for “the first time you can see another increase in their social security and health care” – an announcement that was greeted with great applause.
“So the checks are going up. Medicare premiums are going down and look it’s a big deal for seniors,” he said.
‘Let me say something. I want to notice something. They talk about big spending Democrats. Yes, I’ve spent a lot of money doing these things, but guess why,” he said. “We’ve cut the deficit in half,” he said, lowering his voice to a whisper to make his point.
The president seemed visibly frustrated with the Republicans’ argument against his stewardship of the economy. Voters have said the economy and inflation are their top concerns — and they’re giving Biden low marks on his approach to both issues.
‘Give me a break. I’m so sick and I shouldn’t be,” Biden let his voice die as he paced the stage. But the crowd cheered and cheered him on.
“As my granddaughter used to say, Google, I’m serious,” the president told the crowd.
Biden has repeatedly slammed Republicans for wanting to change the government’s two major social programs.
The president has repeatedly made the policy proposals of Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida a boogeyman in elections, calling the senator by name in his criticism of the GOP.
He did that again on Tuesday in Florida. He held up a pamphlet and read aloud Scott’s plan that would put Medicare, Social Security, and other government programs to the vote every five years.
“A Florida senator who’s after Social Security and Medicaid?” he said. “Maybe you don’t even believe it. Again, word for word. All federal law means sunsets will disappear in five years.”
“These programs are doing something so basic and so important,” Biden said of them.
Biden began his comments by talking about all the help his administration has provided the state in recovering from Hurricane Ian. He said the federal government has approved $1.7 billion in federal grants, sparking cheers, applause and cheers from the public.
Biden will campaign for Democratic governor candidate Charlie Crist and Senate hopeful Val Demings in the Sunshine State, even if he avoids some of the bigger battlefield contests like Georgia, Nevada and Arizona.
Prior to his trip, Biden boarded Air Force One with a copy of Jon Meacham’s new book “And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle.”
The biography examines how Lincoln prioritized his policies and ending slavery over his own future before the 1864 election and during the Civil War.
Lincoln’s Republican party also performed poorly in the 1862 midterm elections, with the Democrats taking several seats and ending their majority.
Polls suggest Biden could suffer a similar fate with the 2022 midterms, with polls suggesting Republicans will resolutely take control of the House and have a path to winning a majority in the Senate.
“Lincoln was a politician, but he was a politician who was ultimately driven by his conscience,” Meacham . said NPR. This is my whole argument in the book. If he had only been a cynical political creature, he would have made radically different decisions at critical points.’
President Joe Biden kicks off the week before the midterms with a visit to Florida on Tuesday. He was holding Jon Meacham’s book “And There Was Light – Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle” when he boarded
Meacham’s book looks at how Lincoln wanted to prioritize emancipation and democracy over his own political future. Lincoln’s Republican Party also underperformed during the midterms
He will appear in Donald Trump’s home state to destroy ‘MAGA Republicans’, who he says want to cut social programs and raise taxes on the rich
Crist follows Republican administration Ron DeSantis, who is seeking a second term. And Deming will take on GOP Senator Marco Rubio in a match that will help decide which side will control the Senate next year.
Struggling with low approval ratings, the president is spending his last week on the campaign trail trying to contrast how his Democrats will rule versus Republicans as voters prepare to head to the polls on Nov. 8.
He will make his closing arguments over the next seven days at stops in New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
He’s not the only Democrat to follow the campaign trail. Jill Biden goes to Pennsylvania on Wednesday. Barack Meanwhile, Obama will be in Nevada on Tuesday for Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, who faces a tough reelection campaign and heads to Arizona on Wednesday to campaign for Senator Mark Kelly.
University of North Florida pollster Michael Binder told the Palm Beach Post that Biden’s visit could be “six months late” as millions of Florida voters have already cast their votes in the early vote.
Election forecasters see that Republicans have a good chance of winning control of the House of Representatives. The Senate is seen as more up for grabs.
By gaining control of even one chamber of Congress, the GOP could hamper Biden’s legislative agenda for the next two years.
Meanwhile, Trump will hold a rally in Miami on Sunday, though he will campaign for Republicans in general. DeSantis, who is rumored to be a 2024 presidential candidate, will not appear with him.
Florida has become an increasingly difficult state for Democrats to win. Trump wore it in 2016 and 2020.
DeSantis took advantage of anti-covid sentiment to push back against lockdown restrictions and signed legislation against vaccine mandates.
Biden wants to increase voter turnout but stays away from most battlefield states.
The president has not been to Arizona, Nevada or Georgia—three states that helped land the White House—and is not expected to be. All three states have closely contested Senate races.
The president will campaign with Barack Obama in Philadelphia on Saturday for gubernatorial candidate Josh Shaprio and Senate rival John Fetterman.
With the Senate currently sitting at 50-50 — and giving Vice President Kamala Harris the casting vote — any race can decide which party will hold the majority next year.
President Joe Biden to campaign for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist in the Sunshine State
Donald Trump to hold Republican rally in Miami on Sunday