Election Countdown: Seven Takeaways From Joe Biden Miami Town Hall
With 28 days to go before the Nov. 3 election, South Floridians are mulling what they heard from Joe and Jill Biden during their visits Monday to Boca Raton and Miami.
Here are seven takeaways from Joe Biden's town hall in Miami on Monday evening:
More: Joe Biden kicks off Florida push as Trump sidelined by COVID
1. The contrast between Biden and President Trump in their approaches to COVID-19 personal safety and responsibility couldn't have been any sharper. Before Biden took the stage in the courtyard of Miami's Pérez Art Museum, the nation was treated to the sight of Trump arriving at the White House and symbolically removing his mask. Biden was adamant that he would seek to have Americans understand that wearing face coverings is "patriotic" and has nothing to do with being a "tough guy."
2. Taking the issue a step forward, Biden also presented a stark difference in comparison to Trump, whose tweet storms tend to attack people in toxic fashion, by calling for unity and civility. "The country is ready to be united," he said. "We've got to start talking to each other like we respect each other."
3. The biggest applause Biden received Monday night was after his response to a question in which he eschewed defunding police forces. Biden said he wants to "increase" funding for police to get them extra resources, including professionals from other disciplines to assist them in defusing dangerous situations when responding to calls.
4. The one question with a real Florida feel was from a laid off flight attendant who asked about what Biden would do to help the tourism industry. Biden spoke about assistance to the airlines and other companies but said the key is to make sure Americans wear masks so that the economy can open up without seeing devastating spikes in coronavirus cases.
5. Biden directly shot back on a question about GOP attacks on him that call him a tool of the "radical left" and a socialist. He fired back that he took on avowed democratic socialist Bernie Sanders and was criticized, he said, for being "too centrist" during the Democratic presidential primary debates. "Do I look like a socialist? I'm the guy that ran against a socialist," Biden said. It's Trump, Biden said, who lacks courage to stand up to radical world leaders. Biden said he took on the Castros, the Putins and other dictators. "I didn't cozy up to them," he said.
6. Say it, Joe, say it. Biden left everyone hanging with the conclusion of his answer on the socialist question. "I'm no more of a socialist or a communist than Donald Trump is ... Well, I won't say it," Biden said.
7. The questioning was polite. The biggest challenge Biden had was hearing the questions. The art museum courtyard is open air and the traffic on MacArthur Causeway from downtown Miami to Miami Beach was clearly audible.
POLLS
A poll released Tuesday morning by the Public Opinion Research Lab at the University of North Florida showed Biden with a six point lead over Trump, 51% to 45%, with just 3% undecided. UNF pollster Mike Binder said the vast majority of responses from this survey were collected between last week's presidential debate and the president’s recent COVID-19 diagnosis.
The state's GOP leaders also were underwater in their approval ratings, the poll found. Gov. Ron DeSantis had just 47% approval and 51% disapproval. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott got 45% approval with 53% disapproval and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio had 46% approval and 51% disapproval. “All of the Republican leaders in the state are underwater in their approval ratings,” Binder noted, “Perhaps due to voter’s concerns about their connections to Trump.”
VOTING DEADLINES TO KNOW
• Mail-in ballots are already being mailed out.
• Voters have until Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. to request a ballot by mail.
• For a mail-in ballot to be counted it must be received by their county elections supervisor by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3.
• Early voting statewide must at least be offered between Oct. 24 and 31. Individual counties may also offer seven extra days. In Palm Beach County, early voting will be held from Oct. 19 until Nov. 1.
• Voting locations open on Election Day, Nov. 3, at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
• Deadline to cure signature issues: Nov. 5
• Deadline to receive overseas ballots: Nov. 13
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Election Countdown: Seven takeaways from Joe Biden Miami town hall
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