Trump, Biden make final push for votes in Florida

DORAL, Fla. ā€“ With just five days until Election Day, the presidential candidates are making a final push for votes in the Sunshine State.

Former Vice President Joe Biden made a stop at Broward Collegeā€™s north campus in Coconut Creek Thursday afternoon.

This is his second visit to South Florida in just the past two weeks and was a last-ditch get out and vote effort in the heavily Democratic county.

ā€œYou hold the key. If Florida goes blue, itā€™s over. Itā€™s over,ā€ Biden told the crowd.

Those attending Thursdayā€™s drive-in event were required to wear face masks.

ā€œOver these past few months, there has been so much pain, so much suffering, so much loss in America,ā€ Biden said. ā€œMore than 225,000 dead Americans because of COVID-19. More than 16,000 here in Florida.ā€

During his speech, Biden criticized Trumpā€™s handling of the pandemic.

ā€œAt the debate last week, Donald Trump said, ā€˜Weā€™re rounding the cornerā€¦itā€™s going awayā€¦weā€™re learning to live with it.ā€™ But as I told him, ā€˜Weā€™re not learning to live with it, weā€™re learning to die with it.ā€™ Donald Trump has waved the white flag, abandoned our families and surrendered to this virus. But the American people donā€™t give up, they donā€™t give in and they surely donā€™t cower, and neither will I.ā€

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump left the Trump National Doral Thursday ahead of a Make America Great Again rally at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. He will then move on to North Carolina.

Both Trumpā€™s and Bidenā€™s campaigns are vying for Florida and other crucial battleground states.

ā€œMy plan will crush the virus and make us strong. Weā€™re going to be stronger -- stronger than ever before,ā€ Trump said during an event in Arizona.

The response to the coronavirus pandemic has been front and center during this election, and Arizonaā€™s one of at least 45 states seeing rising cases of the virus.

Michigan is another, and the president credits the rise in number to a large amount of testing.

The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll has Biden up seven points in Michigan and 17 points in Wisconsin.

Voters there are largely disapproving of the presidentā€™s pandemic response. The 538 poll average has Biden up by nearly nine points.

More than 75 million Americans have already voted early, either in person or through mail-in ballots. Florida already has more votes in than the president received in 2016.

While Biden is making a stop in Broward Thursday, his campaign is also focusing on Iowa. Farmers there were the crucial base Trump won in 2016.

Many are struggling from the presidentā€™s trade deals, devastating weather and COVID-19. The federal government has been pumping more than $37 billion dollars in aid to them.

Back in Florida, Republicans are making a surge.

On Monday, they trailed Democrats in early voter turnout by more than 350,000. Thatā€™s now down to less than 250,000 in just two days.


About the Authors:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.