Biden rallies Democrats in Jacksonville for Gillum, Nelson

Democrats burst into repeated chants of “Bring it Home” on Monday as the home stretch of Florida’s nationally-watched campaigns brought former Vice President Joe Biden to Jacksonville for an event that showcased Andrew Gillum’s run for governor and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson’s bid for re-election.

At an event dubbed “The Winning Ticket” in the University of North Florida’s field house, signs of support were most visible for Gillum based on the number of blue shirts and placards bearing his name.

Nelson keyed off the enthusiasm by recalling the fervor of Barack Obama’s campaigns for president.

“The last time here in Jacksonville that I saw this big a crowd was the day before the election that put Barack Obama into the White House,” Nelson said.

Biden, who was Obama’s running mate in those presidential campaigns, called Gillum “one of the most exciting and dynamic candidates” and said Nelson showed political courage when he voted for the Affordable Care Act at a time when that carried electoral risk.

“I’ve campaigned for a lot of people all over this country,” Biden said. “The American people are looking for people with character. ... I haven’t served with anyone with more character and more decency than Bill Nelson.”

Biden arrived with the candidates at UNF after campaigning earlier in the day with them in Tampa on the first day of early voting for the Nov. 6 election. Biden’s presence highlighted the national attention garnered by the race for governor between Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee, and former congressman Ron DeSantis, the GOP nominee.

The contest between Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott for the Senate seat likewise has national ramifications as Republicans seek to keep control of the Senate in another race that polls show is close.

“Election day is today,” Gillum said, urging people to take advantage of early voting to cast their ballots.

While Biden, Gillum and Nelson brought different styles to podium in their turns on the stages, they struck similar themes in outlining what they said is at stake. They focused on health care, education, environmental protection, and boosting wages so people can make ends meet without having to work two or more jobs.

Gillum talked about criminal justice reform and giving pay raises to teachers, saying the Republican-controlled Legislature approved a budget that boosts education spending by 43 cents per student.

“If my grandmother was here, she would not say that’s a shame,” Gillum said. “She’d say that’s a crying shame because some things are worth crying over.”

At the federal level, Biden and Nelson hammered comments by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., that the fast-rising federal budget deficit will require changes in federal spending on Social Security and Medicare.

“I can tell you as long as I’m around, we’re not touching Social Security and Medicare,” Nelson said to huge cheers.

Biden said the ballooning deficit is caused by tax cuts pushed through by Republicans for large corporations. He said the Republican’s goal “wasn’t just to give a tax cut to the wealthy” but also to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Biden said electing Gillum will pave the way for Florida to expand Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act, something all the speakers touted.

Nelson said 2 million Floridians gained coverage from the Affordable Care Act and another 800,000 would benefit from the state accepting additional Medicaid dollars.

“How much more could’ve been done if Gov. Scott had signed Medicaid expansion?” Biden said. “Well, folks, Gov. Gillum is going to change that.”

With Florida beset by algae outbreaks and red tide, Biden said Republicans have attacked and hollowed out the Environmental Protection Agency.

Gillum leveled the same attack on state government, saying that as governor, he would trust science and empower agencies to safeguard the state’s resources while pushing to expand solar power.

Gun control also featured in the speeches.

Gillum said that when parents drop off their children at school, they shouldn’t have to worry about whether the child “will be alive or in a body bag” when they pick their children back up.

“Enough is enough is enough,” Gillum said.

He said common-sense control will protect Second Amendment rights while reducing gun violence.

“If you want to carry the power of God on your belt, then you ought to pass a background check,” he said. “If you want to fire a gun that fires 60 bullets in 60 seconds, you ought to join the military.”

Biden leveled sharp criticism of President Donald Trump, saying “values have been shredded” and the United State is losing it ability to lead the world by example.

“This is not your father’s Republican Party,” Biden said.