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TAMPA, Fla. – While many polling stations were opening early Monday, the Democrats unveiled one of their most powerful weapons. Former Vice President Joe Biden rushed to Florida to help Andrew Gillum and Bill Nelson in their races at the US Governor and Senate, respectively. .
"You have one of the most exciting young leaders in the country," Biden told a University of South Florida gymnasium gathering some 1,500 students and Democrats in the region, describing Gillum, Mayor of Tallahassee. "Do you want change in this state? Well, you have the guy standing behind me to change him. "
All 67 counties in Florida must offer at least one week of advance voting starting Saturday and are allowed to offer an additional five days from Monday. Most of the most populous counties in the state do so, including Tampa County in Hillsborough.
"Election day has begun. Here on campus, we celebrate polling day, "said Gillum. "Today is polling day, USF. Today, election day, Floridians. "
Biden urged voters to send Nelson back for a fourth term, citing his willingness to stand up for the Affordable Care Act in 2010, when President Barack Obama had passed it through Congress, when he said he would not go back. he was deeply unpopular with many voters.
He also praised Gillum as a powerful voice for his progressive ideals and for the one who would immediately develop Medicaid for 800,000 Floridians, after current Republican governor Rick Scott refused to do so during his two terms.
Biden also spent considerable time on a national message as he was considering another presidential bid in 2020. "This election is more important than politics," he said. "You will never vote in larger elections, not only for Florida, but for the country."
Biden said he and Obama had tried to give Donald Trump the same courtesy as George W. Bush: to remain silent in the face of the new administration.
"After Charlottesville, I could not remain silent," said Biden, referring to a neo-Nazi march in the university city of Virginia last year; The violence of this weekend left a protester dead, and Trump said there were "good people" on "opposing sides".
"The President of the United States has made a moral equivalence. … No president did that before the civil war, "said Biden. "Our most important job is to reset the moral compass. Because our children listen and our silence is a complicity. "
Biden said that Trump "was trying to amass power so he could abuse it" and that it was up to every American who did not agree with that to defend him. "Ladies and gentlemen, that's not what we are."
It's time for us to look up. Get up and take the country back.
former vice president Joe Biden
Biden closed his half hour of optimistic remarks, noting that, despite China's concerns, the United States was much better positioned in this century in terms of natural resources, clean air and abundant water. and in terms of human capital in the form of research universities.
"Do not tell me that China will own America," he said. He urged the Democrats to no longer be pessimistic about Trump and to take steps to fix it. "It's time we looked up. Get up and take the country back. Do not forget: this is the United States of America, the largest country in the world. And it's not a hyperbole. So let's go back!
Recent polls show Gillum has a modest lead over republican nominee Ron DeSantis and Nelson on a score slightly lower than Scott, who could no longer run for the governor because of the length of his tenure. mandate.
The Democrats have not controlled the governor's mansion for 20 years, although Alex Sink and Charlie Crist managed to gain nearly one percentage point of victory against Scott in 2010 and 2014, respectively.
Nelson, for his part, has not had a difficult election since his first term in 2000. Scott, as he had done during his two terms as governor, spent a great deal of time his personal fortune for his campaign, with $ 40 million so far in his challenge for Nelson Senate Seat.
Biden had another rally with Gillum and Nelson scheduled for Monday in Jacksonville, with a third set for Orlando on Tuesday.
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