President Joe Biden 's campaign is still claiming that Florida is "in play" in November, despite Jen O'Malley Dillon, campaign chairwoman, conceding Monday that the Sunshine State is not a battleground for Democrats.
Dillon was asked by Puck News if North Carolina was a battleground, to which she responded "yes," but when asked if Florida was a battleground, she replied "no." The Biden campaign, however, is not conceding the state and has touted the efforts it is making to flip Florida voters.
“Florida is in play for President Biden and Democrats up and down the ballot. Trump and his out-of-touch loyalists are taking the state for granted, while their extreme agenda continues to increase costs and rip away Floridians' freedoms," Dan Kanninen, Biden-Harris battleground states director, said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
"The President has a strong story to tell on the issues that matter most to Floridians, which is why our campaign continues to scale up our presence and investments into the state,” Kanninen added.
While the campaign claims the state is still in play, Dillon's comments to the outlet were seen as waving the white flag for the state by many in the Florida GOP.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) declared Florida "not in play" in November in a post on X on Monday.
"For decades, Florida was the largest, most important battleground state in presidential elections. Today, even the Biden campaign acknowledges that those days are over. Florida is not in play in 2024," DeSantis wrote.
Florida Republican Party Chairman Evan Power took a swipe at his Democratic counterpart, Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried, in his response to the comments, and pointed to the GOP's registered voter advantage in the state.
"Another day, another Florida Democrat debacle! Despite Nikki Fried's rhetoric, the Biden campaign is clearly waving the white flag in Florida," Power said in a statement. "With nearly one million more registered Republicans than Democrats in the state, the Florida GOP’s grassroots operation is fully engaged and pressing on the gas."
"Make no mistake: Republicans are going to win and win big, in November!" he added.
The Biden campaign has made significant investments in Florida, looking to widen the expected wave of voters supporting Ballot Measure 4, which would enshrine abortion through viability into state law, in November. Abortion has been a winning topic for Democrats since the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court two years ago, and they are hoping to use the matter to their advantage again in Florida.
“Donald Trump may think he can take Florida for granted,” Vice President Kamala Harris said at a Florida event on abortion policy in May. “It is your power that will send Joe Biden and me back to the White House.”
Recent polls in Florida show Biden within striking distance, but former President Donald Trump is still leading in his home state. A Florida Atlantic University and Mainstreet Research poll released earlier this month shows Trump leading Biden 49% to 43%, while a Fox News poll also released this month shows Trump's lead over Biden 50% to 46%.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Fried, in response to Kanninen's comment, reiterated the campaign's proclamation that the state is in play in a post on X.
"Florida is in play! If we do the work, we win. Same as always. LFG," Fried said.
Most Popular
Comments / 0