Since 2008 Joe Biden has visited Southwest Florida five times − once as the President of the United States and four times when he was the vice-president.
Biden came to Naples and Fort Myers for a variety of reasons, including one time for some rest and relaxation on an island off the SWFL coastline.
On Sunday Biden announced he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race against Donald Trump. He will finish his term. It remains unknown who will take his place at the top of the Democratic ticket.
Here is a review of Biden's trips to this region in the last 16 years:
October 5, 2022: Hurricane Ian damage assessment
Biden was on the ground on Fort Myers Beach a week after Southwest Florida was clobbered by Hurricane Ian. Fort Myers Beach was one of the hardest hit areas. After arriving at Southwest Florida International Airport, Biden was taken to the beach by helicopter where he got a first-hand look at the devastation.
“Today, we have one job and only one job, and that's to make sure that people in Florida get everything that they need to fully thoroughly recover,” Biden said when he spoke.
January 2014: Vacation time on Keewaydin Island at the 'Biden Bungalow'
In a story published on news-press.com on Jan. 3, 2014, Vice President Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, spent a mini-vacation at Keewaydin, an 8-mile long barrier island between Naples and Marco Island.
The Bidens stayed at the beachfront home of Biden’s brother.
James Biden Sr. and his wife bought a 5-acre Keewaydin lot and house for $2.7 million on Dec. 23, 2013.
It was pointed out in the story the Bidens’ trip was unique because it brought temporary flight restrictions for three nautical miles surrounding Keewaydin Island. The Federal Aviation Administration issued three temporary flight restrictions for “VIP Movement” in the Fort Myers/Naples area.
The story also included a line about how Naples officials said their historically Republican city and county would be supportive of the Democratic Bidens.
A story on naplesnews.com published on June 27, 2018, reported the Keewaydin Island vacation home of Biden’s brother, known as the “Biden Bungalow,” sold quietly for $1.35 million in February to the owners of a Florida-based architecture and design firm.
Collier property records showed the buyer of the 4,000 square-foot home as a limited liability company titled, SC-Keewaydin, registered to John Cooney with Randall Stofft as an authorized agent.
September 2012: Campaign rally for Barrack Obama in Fort Myers
Biden came to Fort Myers on Sept 29. 2012 as vice-president, campaigning for President Barrack Obama. He led a rally that day at the Wa-Ke Hatchee Park Recreation Center on Bass Road in Fort Myers.
More than 2,000 people crowded into a community center to see Biden talk about Medicare, the federal deficit and tax cuts for the wealthy.
That campaign stop was part of two-day swing through Florida for Biden.
2008 and 2010: A pair of private fundraising events in Naples
The Naples Daily News reported on Jan. 16, 2010 Biden would visit South Florida that weekend, including making a stop in Naples on Sunday for a private fundraiser.
The visit by Biden and his wife, Jill Biden was hosted by Naples Bay Resort developer Jack Antaramian and his wife, Mona, at their home on Gordon Drive.
The event required a minimum donation of $1,000 to attend, and guests could contribute up to $10,000, a White House spokesperson said.
The also couple played host to a fundraiser in October 2008, just weeks before the presidential election. Biden also appeared at that event.
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