In Florida, Democrats rally, Republicans pivot on Biden’s campaign decision

ORLANDO, Fla. – President Biden’s announcement Sunday that he would step aside from his reelection bid and his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris led to a flurry of activity by Democratic leaders in Florida as they rushed to shore up support for Harris.

“I think the president today looked at all he had accomplished and he clearly noticed for him to step down what would be the best for our party our country,” said Orange County Democratic Party Samuel Vilchez Santiago.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings issued a statement following the president’s announcement.

“It has been shocking news to learn of President Biden’s decision to end his campaign for re-election. We thank him for his service to our nation. As an American and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, I am committed to democracy and helping select the best person to be the next President of the United States,” Demings said.

Republicans, meanwhile, began sharpening their political knives for their new Democratic presidential opponent.

“Democrats are just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic,” Gov. Ron DeSantis tweeted Sunday.

[RELATED: Here’s everything you need to know to vote in Florida in 2024]

Calls for Biden to step aside grew after his performance at the presidential debate in June reignited questions about his age.

Nadia Ahmad, a Florida delegate to the upcoming Democratic National Convention, had publicly called for him to drop out.

“If we look at that debate performance, and we look at what had transpired after that, if the Democrats did nothing else all the (Republicans) would have to do between now and November just play parts of that debate and there’s no way to respond,” said Ahmad.

Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Orlando, is an advisor to the Biden campaign. He said he had his concerns as well, but subsequent conversations with Biden alleviated those issues. He also respects the president’s decision to leave the race.

“It takes an immense amount of humility, maturity and statesmanship,” Frost said. “We do have a campaign to run, and we can’t waste time. We also need to focus on making sure this country, everybody knows what Joe Biden just did and how historic it is.”

Frost also voiced his support for Harris to become the Democratic nominee and says he plans to campaign with her.

“Well, number one, I trust Joe Biden’s judgment, and he has endorsed her out the gate, and that goes a long way with me,” Frost said. “But the other thing to look at is the there’s only one person, one other person that Joe Biden has been voted that has had their name on the ballot for the Democratic nomination that has won that alongside Joe Biden. That’s Kamala Harris, right? She’s the only person that can use the full operation that has been built and has already been around the country campaigning for the president.”

Of the eight Democratic members of Florida’s Congressional delegation, five released statements Sunday supporting Harris, including Frost.

On Monday the Florida Democratic Party announced most of its delegates would support Harris at the Democratic National Convention. The party also said that the entire Democratic Congressional delegation had signed on.

“The Florida Democratic Party must be more united than ever before to beat Donald Trump,” FDP Chairman Nikki Fried said Monday. “The mission is the same: beat Donald Trump.”

Vilchez Santiago says Harris is the most qualified person to lead the Democratic ticket.

“The vice president has been there with the American people,” he said. “Delivering on key issues, increasing access to reproductive care, which is especially important at this moment. She also demonstrated somebody who can clearly debate and has a record to stand.”

Republicans, meanwhile, say Harris will only serve as a reminder of President Biden’s policies.

“It actually is going to help Trump because Biden is a known quantity,” said Brevard County Republicans Chairman Rick Lacey. “And for the last four years they kept talking about Biden’s policies, and you’re not just voting for Biden, you’re voting for Biden’s policies and that’s the more important thing, and that he’s got a team in place.

Florida Republicans are also using Biden’s decision as justification to try to push the president out of the White House completely.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, announced he would file a resolution this week for the 25th Amendment to be invoked to try to remove Biden from office.

“The reaction today of President Biden not running for president is not surprising to a lot of people but at the same time, there’s a lot of questions. If he’s unable to run for president, is he able to run the country for the next six months? A lot of Republicans don’t think he can,” said Orange County Republican Chair Erin Huntley.

Several leading lawmakers echoed that statement on X.com Sunday.

The 25th Amendment provides a way to replace a president in the case of death, removal, resignation or incapacitation. It requires a majority of the president’s cabinet, or a specific “body” designated by Congress, to invoke the 25th Amendment, along with the vice president.

The 25th Amendment has never been successfully invoked. There were attempts to use it during former President Donald Trump’s presidency as well.

Republicans are also planning to begin attacking Harris. DeSantis gave a taste of that Sunday, calling Harris a “Border Czar,” a reference to Biden tapping Harris to work with Central American government to try to reduce immigration to the Southern border.

Frost said Republicans pointed out that U.S. southern border crossings have declined since December, with CBS news reporting Friday that crossings dropped to 83,536 in June, according to data by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

“There is a distinction between Republicans and Democrats and how we usher in and how we operate the border,” Frost said. “We believe in an orderly, humane process, orderly process. That’s what we need. And I think what most Americans if somebody really is worried about the border, I think most Americans they want an orderly process. They want to make sure it’s a safe process. And I agree. We all agree with that.”

Rep. Elisa Stefanik, R-New York, is expected to introduce a resolution Monday condemning Harris for the border. Frost said we should expect to see more attacks like that against Harris.

“We’re going to see a lot of tone death, really bizarre attacks on the Vice President, but we’ll be there with the record of the last three and a half years, the work she did in the Senate and her vision for the future to combat it and make sure we win this election,” Frost said.

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