What does it mean that Joe Biden will run for the Sunshine State this year?
Campaign chairs Jen O’Malley Dillon and Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the campaign managers for Biden, stated in a memo from earlier this month that the campaign will “spend in important Sun Belt battlegrounds, including Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and North Carolina, where Dems have experienced wins in previous years.”
Florida was noticeably missing from the list.
The Florida Democratic Party Chair, Nikki Fried, emphasized that the state party had “full assurance that the Biden team, as well as national partners, will be spending funds here.” when the Biden-Harris campaign declared last week that it would be taking the lead in the state.
Thus, perhaps this year, the Biden-Harris campaign is trying in Florida? Perhaps? Maybe?
Whoever you trust there, not everyone believes that the campaign is really trying to change the state.
One of the campaign’s critics was Miami Herald writer Fabiola Santiago, who noted that Fried, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, and the Mayor Daniella Levine Cava introduced the campaign’s weak effort to call on Hispanic voters.
Santiago said, “Three gringos are creating ‘Latinos con Biden-Harris’ in wealthy Coral Gables.” “Depressed trombone.”
“In a county where the GOP’s attempt to attract voters ispersonal—and Trump’s presence is a staple—the overall optics made no sense,” Santiago said. “And it is our understanding that the Democratic Party is still pursuing Florida?”
Santiago expressed dissatisfaction over the assignment of Biden, Harris, and other prominent party surrogates to states with more intense competition:
Even with his charisma, sending the Second Gentleman indicates that we are not in a significant state. Unlike the Obamas and Clintons, he is not the party’s most prominent surrogate for the presidential campaign. He is not the emerging star that Latinos in California are talking about, like Senator Alex Padilla, a climate change activist and the son of immigrants from Mexico who helped create the POWER On Act to confront catastrophes. Or like the brilliant congressman from New York, Hakeem Jeffries, who is a strong contender to become speaker of the House should the Democrats win back the majority.”
It is probable that Biden will spend some cash to at least give the impression that the team is taking the Sunshine State more seriously and that they are not writing it off, especially given his current financial position. It is common for a president to lose reelection if he is unable to enlarge his map. However, Biden is more than welcome to blow money in Florida if that is his desire.
