Crist, Scott Bring Out Big Names In Florida Race
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — As Election Day draws closer and closer, Florida's gubernatorial candidates are doing everything they can to win more votes.
Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Republican-turned-Democrat former Gov. Charlie Crist have each spent tens of millions of dollars on a race that is still too close to call and turned Sunday to popular party figures to help them in the homestretch.
Watch Maggie Newland's report, click here.
Vice President Joe Biden appeared with Crist at an event targeting Hispanic voters at Florida International University. He noted the growing influence of Hispanics and said they could be at the point where they decide the outcome of this and every future election.
"Stand up and show it! Speak up! Vote!" Biden said to cheers.
Scott planned a rally with former Gov. Jeb Bush later in the day. Biden also appeared with Crist at a "Souls to the Polls" event at a church in Fort Lauderdale. There, the vice president appealed to African American voters talking about how much their votes have meant to the Democratic party in past elections.
"If people get out to vote we win," he said. "If people stay home we lose. We lose; the community loses; we all lose."
In Miami, Vice President Biden criticized cuts to the budget by Republican leaders.
"They're not your father's republican party," the Vice President said. "They cut law enforcement but they're able to give hundreds of millions of dollar tax breaks to continue to have corporate jets not pay their fair share. They say they care about protecting our parents and healthcare for children, yet look at what they do. They eliminated medicare they set up vouchers."
Biden went on to criticize Governor Rick Scott for not taking climate change seriously, handing out tax cuts to corporations while cutting school funding and trying to restrict abortion rights.
"He says when asked about climate change, 'I'm not a scientist.' But he sure the hell thinks he's a doctor when he tells women what do.'" Biden said to the loudest applause of the event. He added later, "We can't afford Rick Scott anymore, we really can't ... We can't afford any longer to be so narrow."
Bush and Biden are both considered potential 2016 presidential candidates and Crist and Scott were relying on their star power on the last day of early voting. So far, 3.1 million Floridians have already cast ballots in the race, with a nearly even split among Republicans and Democrats.
Crist and Scott began Sunday by visiting churches, Crist in Palm Beach County and Scott in Miami-Dade County.
Crist was already praying on Saturday, saying at an event at Florida A&M University that the election is about helping people and Scott is ignoring them by refusing to accept federal money that could help the state.
"I don't pray him no harm, but I do pray to God, deliver us from evil," Crist said.
On Monday, each candidate was also getting outside help. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, both potential 2016 presidential candidates, were planning to campaign with Scott, while former President Bill Clinton will appear at an election eve rally with Crist in Orlando.
(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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