Florida Democrats held a virtual news conference Monday, where they voiced their support for Vice President Kamala Harris taking on former President Donald Trump in the presidential race.
The group began Monday’s news conference thanking President Joe Biden.
Some described his actions Sunday as courageous and compassionate for putting the country first.
“He did what Trump could never do – put country above himself,” U.S. Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz said, holding back tears.
After they got through those thank yous and saying they’re proud of him, they quickly segued into articulating why they say they are already united and excited about the Harris for president concept and idea.
“I’m extremely excited to support Vice President Harris – one of the most accomplished, experienced candidates of unrivaled integrity that we have ever run for this great office,” Wasserman Schultz said.
“She’s ready for the battle,” State Rep. Fentrice Driskell added. “I mean, she’s battle tested. You’ve heard us say it on this call numerous times. Just look at her resume, having been the attorney general to the most populous state in the country, a United States senator for the most populous state in the country, and now having served as vice president for four years.”
“It is the Republicans’ dream to sit back and watch us fight each other and create chaos. But we don’t have to show them chaos,” State Senator Shevrin Jones said. “We can show them unity and we can show them strength.”
If there was one word for the theme of the lengthy news conference, it would be just that -- unity.
That’s clearly what they’re trying to communicate to likely anxious folks in their base, but they also were speaking to Independents and moderates, calling out folks in the Republican party they say that want their “Republican party” back.
We are now looking at a Democratic convention in three weeks and the group that attended Monday’s call basically said the idea of a contentious convention is a risk.
Florida Democrats said that’s an absolute threat, highlighting one of the other reasons why you’re going to see the swift mobilization from Democratic leaders around Harris for president.
Florida Democrats say they’re already feeling “renewed energy” and have been receiving many phone calls from people wanting to donate, engage and register voters ahead of the November election.
According to a nationwide poll conducted by Bendixen & Amandi International, Harris led Trump slightly, 42% to 41%, although other polls show the former president with a slight lead.
ABC News reported Monday that Harris is now sometimes polling ahead of Biden following his debate against Trump, although she previously consistently polled worse.
“A near-bell curve distribution in the differences between their margins in these polls is centered close to 0, suggesting little to no meaningful difference between how Harris and Biden performed,” ABC News reported.