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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — President Joe Biden made little mention of Republican Gov. Ron DeSandis on the campaign trail in Florida Tuesday afternoon, one week before Election Day. While Florida Democrats criticized several of DeSantis’ questionable policies, Biden instead took a victory lap on his legislative accomplishments, including an infrastructure law, and warned that “Mega-MAGA Republicans” are “a different breed of cat ». The president did not attack DeSantis for his fight with Disney, his opposition to childhood COVID-19 vaccines or his efforts to limit how race, gender and sexual orientation are taught in schools. Earlier, however, Biden called DeSandis “Donald Trump incarnate” during a fundraiser in Golden Beach, Florida. Biden was in Florida to support Democrat Charlie Crist, a former U.S. congressman seeking to unseat DeSandis, and Democratic Rep. Val Demings, a former police chief vying to replace Republican Sen. Marco Rubio. But instead of taking aim at the nominees’ GOP rivals, he reserved most of his criticism for Republican Sen. Rick Scott, who is not on the ballot in November but chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, as well as the minority leader of the House, Kevin McCarthy. of California. Biden even called out Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, who represents Wisconsin, for proposing that Congress annually approve spending for Medicare and Social Security. Biden has consistently criticized Scott since he released a draft of policy proposals, including requiring Congress to reauthorize federal laws every five years. Asked about Biden’s jabs, Chris Hartline, a spokesman for the NRSC, pointed to a new Scott ad that accused Biden of using a loophole to avoid paying up to $500,000 in taxes.

Biden’s focus was not on DeSandis

DeSantis’ omission of Biden on Tuesday night at Florida International University was notable given the possibility that DeSantis could challenge him for president in 2024, particularly if former President Donald Trump does not seek the White House again. The governor and the White House had an adversarial relationship during Biden’s first two years in office. DeSantis is a favorite for the GOP nomination and is expected to win re-election in Florida next week, given that Republican voters outnumber Democrats in the state by more than 300,000. State figures show 40% of Floridians have already voted, with more Republicans voting than Democrats.
Trump is set to campaign with Rubio — but not DeSandis — in Miami on Sunday, two days before the election. DeSantis will be doing several campaigns of his own throughout the weekend. Earlier on Tuesday, he shot Biden several times during a campaign rally in Escambia County, Florida. He barely mentions Crist during his re-election bid and also rarely talks about Trump. “Biden is reminding us by coming to Florida that he failed on inflation, that he failed on borders and energy prices and energy independence,” DeSantis said at Tuesday’s rally. Appearing on Fox News’ Hannity on Tuesday afternoon, DeSantis joked that Biden’s presence in Florida represented “an in-kind contribution to my campaign.” Rep. Charlie Crist, a Democrat from St. Petersburg, will face Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis, a Republican, in November. Chris O’Meara/AP Images and Ronda Churchill/Getty Images Last week, DeSantis dodged a question about his plans for 2024 during his lone debate against Crist, pausing long before the timer indicated it was time to speak and saying, “The only worn-out old man donkey I want to put out to graze is Charlie Crist,” he said, referring to the political symbol for Democrats. The response had the effect of dodging the question while lashing out at Biden, who turns 80 this month, and Crist, 66. DeSantis, 44, is America’s youngest governor. Taking the stage Tuesday, Crist said “Ron DeSantis wants to do to America what he did to Florida.” (A campaign mailer promoting DeSantis made the opposite charge, saying that “Charlie Crist will do to Florida what Joe Biden did to America.”) Crist, who has been Florida’s governor as a Republican since 2007 to 2011, he has run a similar campaign to the way Biden ran in 2020, emphasizing experience and promising unity.
“Ron is tearing us apart, attacking anyone who doesn’t look like him, doesn’t act like him, doesn’t think like him,” he said Tuesday. Biden in turn praised Crist during his speech, saying he “will make an even better governor again because of who he replaces.” As for Demings’ rant, Biden said she would be the key vote to secure a national right to abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Rubio signed a bill that would federally ban abortions after 15 weeks, with exceptions for rape, incest and when a pregnancy is life-threatening, and would allow states to impose further restrictions. Biden was originally scheduled to campaign alongside Christ in Orlando, Florida in September, but postponed the trip as Hurricane Ian shut down the state. Demings had not planned to attend that event, although she would be in her area, NBC News reported. The September trip would come shortly after DeSantis authorized planes to fly Venezuelan migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, a decision the White House called “draconian.” Biden did not address DeSantis’ immigration actions during Tuesday’s speech. Biden last visited Florida just under a month ago, after Hurricane Ian devastated the southwestern part of the state, killing more than 100 people. Although Florida Democrats sent notices to reporters accusing DeSantis of doing a poor job of handling the response, Biden praised the governor, saying he did a “good job” and that they had worked “hand in glove.” DeSantis, too, put aside partisanship and said before the president reached out that “my phone line is open.”