Politics

US Midterms: Biden to Campaign Opposite DeSantis

Published OCT 17 2022

Story

Image credit: AFP/Getty Images [via Newsweek]

The Facts

On Sunday, the White House announced that Pres. Biden will attend a campaign event in Florida for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, who currently trails incumbent Republican Ron DeSantis in the polls.
Reuters
Biden’s appearance will be a chance for him to show support for a key Democrat while also making his case against a potential presidential challenger in 2024, should Biden run for re-election and DeSantis toss his hat into the race.
Reuters
Biden and DeSantis put aside their political differences earlier this month in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, working “hand-in-glove,” according to the president. But their viewpoints are in opposition over hot-button issues, such as immigration, COVID vaccines and precautions, and abortion rights.
Newsweek
Crist said in a statement, “Pres. Biden understands what is on the ballot this November...Whether it's protecting a woman's freedom to make decisions about her own body or helping our state rebuild and prepare for the next storm, the stakes could not be higher for Florida and we are grateful for his support."
Newsweek
Biden, who will be making his first political visit to Florida since taking office, is currently unpopular with the majority of Florida voters. A recent Mason-Dixon poll found 54% of Floridians disapproved of the president’s performance, while 42% said he was doing a good job.
Floridapolitics

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The Spin

Democratic narrative

Despite still being low, Biden’s approval numbers have crept upward lately. Having the president appear with Crist and provide free publicity could provide the Democratic candidate with a much-needed boost against DeSantis, who is winning the fundraising race by a large margin. Biden's presence in the Sunshine State means that a DeSantis victory isn't automatic.

NBC

Republican narrative

Crist can’t seem to figure out that his embrace of Biden and his policies have buried him. But if he wants to double down and let DeSantis roll to victory, he should let Biden campaign with him. This appearance will make it easier for DeSantis to tie Crist to Biden’s divisive messaging, and to his freedom-killing policies related to education, the environment, and the economy.

Breitbart